Forget the form line, our brave Tommy’s running sensational sectionals in Brisbane

Don’t make the mistake of thinking Tommy Lincoln isn’t racing well in Queensland.

He might have won only one race there in the last 12 months but week-in-and-week-out he’s running times comparable to his free-for-all rivals.

His run for fourth two weeks ago at Albion Park was typical of his last 10 starts, says trainer Mark Dux, who estimates he’s been averaging a mile rate of 1:53.

Three back on the markers, Tommy Lincoln came with a strong burst when clear, clocking 54.29 for his last 800 and 26.19 for his final 400. His splits were faster than winner Bigger Wheels, who rated 1:52.6, and only third-placed Will The Wizard ran fractionally faster over the final 400.

“He’s actually going really well without winning,” says Dux. “His sectionals are sensational. They stack up with any of them.”

With the times so fast, Dux says it all comes down to barrier draws and where you end up in the running.

“I thought they’d go hard down the back last time but after she (Chantal Turpin) went down the back in only 28.1 and home in 26.3 we had no chance of running her down.”

So, how does Tommy’s race stack up on Saturday night?

Drawn four in the six-horse field, Tommy won’t be leading, with fast beginner and former Lincoln Farms’ war horse Northview Hustler drawn immediately inside him.

“If Alistair’s (Barnes) horse wants to hold them he can - he was only just run down the other night (by Mach Da Vinci over 2138m).”

Dux says the outside two horses, Big Wheels and Uncle Shank, will surely go forward.

If pressured, Hustler’s trainer-driver Brendan Barnes will then be faced with the decision on whether to hand up the lead, the danger for him being if he relents to one, the stablemate will likely then take over, putting him three back.

“We might be able to slot across without doing too much work and be handy in the running line.

“I’m really happy with him and I see no reason why he won’t race well again.”

In 17 months since arriving in Queensland, Tommy Lincoln has won six races and banked A$83,884 for Lincoln Farms owners John and Lynne Street and their partners Shannon and Brenda Flay, Ian, Kathy and Daniel Parkinson, Debbie Sparks, Ray Menzies, Denis Ebert and Ian Middleton.

Tommy Lincoln races at 1.12am NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.