Draw takes Tommy Lincoln out of play in the Guineas at Cambridge on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 20 February 2020
Tommy Lincoln will need a lot of luck to feature in Friday night’s Waikato Guineas, says trainer Ray Green.
Despite being the lowest equal rated in the field, Tommy Lincoln has the worst draw - four on the second line.
And with two of the highest rated runners, On A Roll and Need You Now drawn one and two, Tommy Lincoln will need all of driver David Butcher’s skills to get into the action.
“We’re not holding our breath that’s for sure,” says Green. “It’s hard to predict what sort of trip he’ll get but he certainly won’t be leading like last time and we’ll be looking for a lot of luck.”
Last Friday at Auckland Tommy Lincoln sped to the front from the inside draw and looked likely to justify Green’s confidence in him until a lap from home when Ferritt’s Sister slung her hook and savaged him continually.
He did well to hang in there for so long and was collared only at the 100 metre mark, not knocked around by Butcher when beaten, to be only two lengths from winner Be My Rock in a busy finish.
Tommy Lincoln had been trialling very well in the run-up to that race, his first for two and a half months, and will naturally take benefit from it.
Green believes Tommy Lincoln, winner of three of his nine starts, could be in for a good season now he has strengthened and plans to test him in the Northern Derby Prelude at Auckland on Friday week.
Green has scratched Man Of Action from the Waikato Guineas after he drew one from the outside.
More news in Harness
Ray reveals his theory on why rank outsider Sammy Lincoln can play a hand in the derby
$101 winner Lincoln Wave has improved and is worth following in Friday’s derby lead-up
OK Sammy, lightning bolts aside, Ray’s relying on you to do things right this time
Lincoln Dealer has the genes but not the barrier draw for Cambridge debut
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s come through his two runs well and we can be bolder with him from a front row draw.”
Race 2: Sugar Ray Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s in good shape and you can’t fault what he’s doing. I don’t think the (seven) draw should make a lot of difference - he’s been parked in his last two and still got money. You wouldn’t take a trifecta without putting him in.”
Race 2: Leo Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s racing really well and just needs a bit of luck from the second row. He’s trained on well and should go well again. ”
Race 4: Rivergirl Bella
6.27pm
“She only has a little sprint but, if she doesn’t have to do too much, she can get home well.”
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.27pm
“She’ll win a race or two, and will get one soon as she’s honest, but she’s still very green. And to be fair to her, she hasn’t had a decent enough run where you can really judge her yet.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.38pm
“Based on the draws, Sammy looks a better chance than Lincoln Wave. Not many win from out there, especially in a Group I race. But I suppose he had a similar draw at Cambridge (six) and got lucky (squeezing into the trail when Nymbal broke) so you never know what can happen. It won’t be easy for him but it would be nice to see him get a good trip as I think he’ll handle the 2700 metres as well as the others.”
Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.38pm
“If he can hold up, that would be marvellous as if anything can give Jumal a fright, it’s him. I know he’s still a maiden but he’s better than most of them ability-wise. He’s a classy big bugger who is very fast and if he ends up on Jumal’s back he’d be dangerous. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the fray as he has such a lot of ability.”
Rac e 10: Prince Lincoln
9.37pm
“If the real Prince Lincoln turned up he’d be in the money, but you never know with him.”
