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.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
