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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Phone home - ET trotter Whats Up The Hill blasts off with narrow Escape at Auckland
Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
What’s Up The Hill.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
5.09pm
“She’s working really well and, from the good draw, hopefully she can run a drum. The field’s not that much harder than the one she beat last time at Manawatu (when parked for the last lap).”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
5.09pm
“We’re very happy with him - he’s come back a better horse. He went well at Auckland last start and is working well. We’ll be looking to go forward from the gate and hopefully get a gun run through behind Onyx Shard. On ability, he’s the better chance of the two.”
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.39pm
“He stepped like a bullet in his first go from a stand here in March. I thought he’d do the same on the second day but he galloped. We’ve got an overcheck on and hopple shorteners on Tuesday so he should make a good beginning. If he can step and lead, then maybe take a trail, he should be hard to beat. He likes it down there where the track is quite soft.”
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.04pm
“I thought I had Kevin Kline covered on Tuesday when we got to the straight because she was really travelling but he kicked away on us. It would be nice if she can get out of the gate as well again - she has good gate speed - and, if she does, she can get some of it again.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
6.04pm
“He was too good for them on Tuesday, thanks to a great Fergy drive, and he’s in the same field again this time. The extra distance and wide draw shouldn’t make much of a difference and he’s our best of the night.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.02pm
“He’ll be hard to beat again if he steps like he did on Tuesday. The 10 metre handicap shouldn’t stop him. I think he’s even better if he follows something and the extra 500 metres isn’t a worry.”
