Brave Tommy off the canvas and back for round number two after brutal track record KO
By Barry Lichter • 15 September 2022
A brutal track record-run race last week took its toll on Tommy Lincoln but trainer Mark Dux says he’s ready to go again on Saturday night.
For the first time in Queensland, Dux said Tommy really knew he’d had a run when trying to chase the runaway Blacksadance who, incredibly, paced a mile rate of 1:49.2 for the 1660 metres, slicing eight tenths of a second off his existing Albion Park record.
Dux didn’t know if Tommy would even recover in time to race this week when he put in a nomination on Monday, anticipating the field might fall away this week.
“But I’ve been nice and easy on him this week and he’s feeling pretty good now.”
Dux correctly predicted Tommy would land the one-one sit behind Blacksadance last Saturday night but his guess that Tommy might get dropped on the home turn proved a little astray when all of 600 metres out, commentator Chris Barsby called “boom boom time.”
“Tommy was left out chasing him just too far from home,” Dux said. “He put three-quarters of a length on the inside horse but in the straight he was on his hands and knees.”
Dux said he couldn’t believe Blacksadance was able to sit parked and run his rivals into the ground with blistering sectionals of 26.4, 28.2, 27 and 27.6.
“The 2138 metres this week is a bit further than Tommy likes but he won’t have to run such brutal sectionals.
“From a nice alley (three) we’ll go forward and I’d be surprised if anything inside tried to park us so he should find the fence.
“I think he’s a really good place chance.”
Dux believes former Lincoln Farms’ flagbearer Northview Hustler is the one to beat on the way he ran home last week for second. Brendan Barnes, son of majority owner Al Barnes, this week took over training the eight-year-old who is looking to score win No. 21 at his pet distance.
“Will The Wizard is probably the next best chance but, like Tommy, he’s not as strong over 2138.”
Tommy Lincoln races at 9.23pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Nathan’s comments
Thurday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Dreams Of Eric
6.03pm
“He’s just come back from a two-week break and seems a lot better after the freshen-up. He’s training really well but this will be like a trial for him. There looks to be a lot of speed in the race so, from five, he won’t be put into the early rush. We’re still aiming him at the Harness 5000 at Ashburton in December.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Kevin Kline
4.44pm
“He was held up last week but still got home really well, hard on their backs and, with the right trip, he’ll be dangerous. But the race looks suited to a horse like Hooray Henry who, in a small field, can sit back and outsprint them.
Race 9: Tyson
8.54pm
“We were looking to sit in with him last week but it didn’t work out. He still ran on pretty well as he always does. He just needs a bit of luck.”
Race 9: Debbie Lincoln
8.54pm
“Maurice was happy with her run last week and said she paced strongly through the line. From seven on the gate this week she’ll have to go back but I think she’s better coming from off the pace. She’s a good chance if she can get sucked into it at the right time.”
