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
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
