Menu

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

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.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.Tommy Lincoln races at 7.14pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday.

Our runners this week

Monday at Taupo

Lincoln Maree, Lincoln Lover.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 2: Sammy Lincoln
5.48pm

“Sammy Lincoln has a bit more speed than Lincoln Wave - he’s very fast for a big, rangy horse - but he might be vulnerable on Friday - he could experience difficulty on the corners going right-handed. He won’t be a maiden for long.”

Race 2: Lincoln Wave
5.48pm

“I’d say he’d be the more reliable of our two. He was clearly our best two-year-old before he got injured and we’ve waited a long time for him. He’s a powerful colt and should have a bright future.”

Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.13pm

“The seven draw is a bit awkward but he’s trained on really well since Cambridge and I’m picking he’ll go really well.”

Race 8: Tyson
8.38pm

“He had a week off after his last run at Auckland, but I don’t think he’ll be short of a run. He’ll come back into the fray as tough as ever.”

Race 8: Spiritual Bliss
8.38pm

“She was incredibly unlucky at Cambridge. The gap opened up for Harrison, he tried to push through, then it closed on him. If she led, she’d be the one to beat. She’s a nice mare and she’s pretty tough, she doesn’t give it up.”

Race Images - Harness