Zachary Butcher reports on Tommy Lincoln on returning to scale at Alexandra Park.
Zachary turns on a masterclass, saving his best for Lincoln Farms’ popular boy Tommy
By Barry Lichter • 7 August 2020
Zachary Butcher turned on a masterclass of front-running drives at Auckland on Thursday night but Tommy Lincoln’s win proved easily the most popular.
Butcher reined home four winners on the night, for four different trainers, with Tommy Lincoln, Daisy Hill and Mr Fantastic all scoring from the front and Marathon Man from the one-one.
But he reserved the biggest smile for the happy throng of owners which greeted Tommy Lincoln after the seventh race, including his boss at Lincoln Farms, John Street.
Pre-race discussions cast doubt on whether Butcher could get across from the outside of the gate on Tommy Lincoln, who races best when bowling along in front.
But Butcher made it look easy, getting the big horse out like a rocket to head Silk inside the first 200 metres.
From there it was a procession and Tommy Lincoln never looked like being headed as he raced away to a two and three-quarter length win in the smart time of 2:41.4 for the 2200 metres.
“He led easily, relaxed beautifully in front and then peeled off a 55.3 half,” Butcher said as the owners smiled for the camera.
Tommy Lincoln goes all the way for Zachary Butcher. PHOTO: Meghan Liefting/Race Images.Raced by Shannon and Brenda Flay, Ian, Kathy and Daniel Parkinson, Debbie Sparks, Ray Menzies, Dennis Ebert, Ian Middleton and John and Lynne Street, the American Ideal four-year-old has now won five of his 15 starts and topped $50,000 in earnings.
That’s a healthy return on the $10,000 Street paid for the horse as a weanling from Woodlands Stud, who ironically, bought his dam Tania Tandias from Lincoln Farms the previous season.
The last two horses Lincoln Farms bred from the Falcon Seelster mare were the well performed Lincoln’s Road (14 wins) and Lincoln’s Girl (15 wins, including four in the United States).
Trainer Ray Green said Tommy Lincoln’s emergence didn’t surprise him as he’s yet another tough racehorse sired by American Ideal, now standing in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley.
“He’s got gate speed and he keeps going,” Green said.
Green was taken even more by the terrific late burst of stablemate American Dealer to nab third right on the line.
Buried four deep on the markers, he looked to have no chance of filling a placing and was even a longshot to get there well into the home straight.
But he really wound up when angled out by David Butcher to hit the line like a freight train.
“He’s a great wee horse and we’ll see a lot more from him.”
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Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
