Tommy Lincoln (Mark Dux) leads in his Queensland debut. He will be handled by Anthony Butt tonight. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Front-running Tommy Lincoln looks to have tonight’s race at Albion Park on a plate
By Barry Lichter • 9 July 2021
Tommy Lincoln looks set to jump straight back into the winners’ circle at Albion Park tonight, drawn to lead a mediocre field.
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green says you can put the line through his last start when, from the second row, he had to work three wide to the death and weakened to seventh.
“Sitting parked just doesn’t suit him,” says Green. “He got pulling too hard. He’ll go much better tonight and should lead easily from two.
“He’s definitely the one to beat.”
From the same spot on the gate in his Queensland debut Tommy Lincoln made a real statement, powering to the front and winning, untested, in a mile rate of 1:53.8 for the 1660 metres, with the highly touted Ranger Bomb 11.5 metres in arrears.
Green says Tommy Lincoln is in good shape now after an issue earlier in the week when he showed signs of lameness.
“We had a bit of a problem with his feet but the farrier sorted that.
“We had pads on his feet but they were pressing hard on his soles so we took them off and he seems fine now.”
Tommy Lincoln, the winner of nine races and more than $100,000, opened a $1.22 favourite for tonight’s fourth event with the former Gavin Smith-trained Kiwi Bettor Call Me, a one race winner, second fancy at $7.50.
Tommy Lincoln races at 9.24pm NZ time at Albion Park tonight.
More news in Harness
Ray: Sammy Lincoln has ‘turned the corner’ and can go on with it on Friday night
Wide draws to overcome but Spirit Of God and Jessie Lincoln should both be competitive
Lincoln Farms turns Spiritual Bliss into a big winner - and now she’s off to the States
Emotional night at the Park as Sammy Lincoln steps up for John and his sister Maree
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Spirit Of God
5.44pm
“She’s definitely a chance as she has enough speed. The raw ability is there and I’m sure she’s as good as any of them ability wise. You can forget she went round at Auckland last week as she locked wheels 600 out.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.44pm
“There’s not a lot between her and Spirit Of God. The other filly is probably a bit fitter than Jessie but she worked well today and I think she’ll be very competitive. It depends on what sort of run she gets (from eight).”
Race 5: Lincoln Maree
7.39pm
“I can’t label her as a betting proposition from the draw, and in a tougher field, but you can never discount her as you know she’ll put herself in the race. You saw what she did last week - it doesn’t matter where she draws, she’ll launch.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Marylynes Boy
5.56pm
“Last week’s run was a non-event but he went well on debut. He’d have to be a shot, drawn the inside.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.57pm
“It’s a shame he hasn’t had more economical trips - he’s had some tough runs - and keeps going good races. He should go well again.”
Race 4: Lincoln Wave
6.57pm
“He burned himself out early in the derby. There was no race for him last week but he’s training well and should be right in it. His best races have been on the front end.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.56pm
“She’s got the draw and will lead out but she’s no match for Sammy Lincoln and looks better placed at Cambridge.”
Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.56pm
“I think he’s turned the corner and can go on with the job. He will have gained a lot in confidence from last week’s win. We haven’t really tried him out of the gate but he’s a good horse who is improving all the time.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.56pm
“He pulled too hard when caught back on the markers last week. He’s got the same inside second row draw so we’ve taken the blinds off or he’d over-race again. When he draws a (good) gate we’ll put them back on again. Obviously he’s best on the front end.”
