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.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
