Tommy Lincoln, second from the outer, charges off the arm at Albion Park, with Northview Hustler inside him.
Foot will be flat to the floor on Tommy to lead free-for-allers at Albion Park on Saturday
By Barry Lichter • 29 April 2022
An anti-choke device will be on and the foot will go down when Tommy Lincoln leaves the gate at Albion Park on Saturday night.
And providing Tommy doesn’t have to spend too much petrol early, trainer Mark Dux says he’ll be more than competitive in the opening race.
For the first time in a while, Tommy has drawn the pole, giving him the chance to show his front-running prowess.
“There’s only one way to drive him and Angus (Garrard) will be doing his best to hold the lead.
“Our chances might depend on what they do with Deus Ex from six. If he burns, we’ll have to burn hard to hold him, but that’s what we’ll be doing.
“I’m sure he’ll race well. We know he can run the times the other free-for-allers run and he’s not going badly, circumstances have just been against him.”
An anti-choke device will stop Tommy Lincoln from tucking in his neck and cutting off his air.Dux says to completely ignore Tommy’s run last week when he sat in the one-one but was gone 800 metres from home.
“That’s not him, he doesn’t do that. The one thing about Tommy is he can follow any speed no matter how fast.
“I’m using an anti choke device this week to stop him from tucking in his neck and cutting off his air. He trained nicely with it on the other day.
“I don’t know why but he’s been pulling a bit more since he cut off his air one night at Redcliffe - maybe he’s striking himself when he does that.”
Dux believes rejuvenated eight-year-old Northview Hustler, drawn to follow through Tommy, will be a big threat.
“It will depend on what they do with the stablemate Deus Ex and whether he can cross us.”
With the ranks of the top free-for-allers in the state very strong, Dux says no one horse is dominating and it all comes down to the draws.
Tommy Lincoln races at 7.14pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday.
More news in Harness
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Ray: Copy Ten Four will go better left-handed at Cambridge on Thursday night. Roger that.
Ray: Omaha Lincoln still improving and can feature again in Friday’s Sires’ Stakes heat
Speedy Prince Lincoln and stablemates Maree and Missy fly out to New York on Sunday
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Copy Ten Four
6.19pm
“He’s better going left-handed and he only has to get round safely to be right in the fray. He’s no champion but he’s not a bad horse.”
Race 3: Rivergirl Bella
7.09pm
“She should lead easily and be the one to beat. She was desperately unlucky last time and she’s in good shape.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.59pm
“He goes much better the Cambridge way round and, while he’s at the mercy of what they do in front of him, he just needs to see a bit of daylight to be right in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Rivergirl Maggie
6.07pm
“It’s her first time at the Park, so you have to take that into consideration, but she’s a little trier and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her go close. She wasn’t strong enough early to go on with but she’s strengthened up now.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
7.10pm
“He’s as good as anything in the field on ability and he’s in the zone at the moment. All he needs is a trip and he’s better drawn in three this time so should go well.”
