In-form Tommy gunning for win No. 8 - and the opposition is easier on Friday

With the scalp of Star Galleria on his belt, Tommy Lincoln will be out to land another killer blow against weaker opposition at Auckland on Friday night.

Tommy Lincoln notched his best win yet when he led all the way to win on mile night a Alexandra Park, clocking a slick 1:54.4 to beat Steven Reid’s former pinup pacer by half a length.

While only a small field it was still a rating 67 to 102 race and on Friday he reverts to a rating 55 to 75 event over 2200 metres.

As the highest rated horse in the field, the winner of seven races, the preferential barrier draw sees him have to start from three on the second row but trainer Ray Green doesn’t believe that will make the horse impotent.

“He used to be one dimensional but he’s improved now and is just as effective coming from off the pace as he is in front.”

Green says Tommy Lincoln might have a problem if asked to run the gate then take a sit but from the second row he should he able to slot in and make his run when driver David Butcher chooses.

“He’s in-form and reliable and that makes him our best chance of the night.

“The boys tell me he’s trained on well while I’ve been away in Christchurch.”

Green opts for Apieceoflou over Revitalise when the two clash in the fifth race.

Both horses have drawn nicely on the front, an early scratching bringing Revitalise in to three and Apieceoflou four.

But Green says Apieceoflou has proven to be the more reliable in his short career.

“He’s a lovely horse who doesn’t do much wrong. I think he could improve into a really nice horse.”

Apieceoflou showed the ability Green knew he had two starts back when, for the first time he landed the trail, and was too good at the finish of 1700 metres, clocking a 1:56 mile rate.

And his effort for fourth last time also had merit as, from the second row, Butcher got him into the one-one sit at the bell and he was able to finish on for fourth to the flying Taipo who clocked 1:53.7.

Apieceoflou ran a slick 1:54.7 himself to get within five lengths of the winner.

Revitalise’s credentials are muddied slightly by his inexplicable break behind the gate at Cambridge last start when favourite.

Despite that, the horse still managed to finish only 5.4 lengths from Bet West after launching a four wide challenge across the top. Though he came to the end of his run in the stretch he battled away gamely.

He looked on the verge of winning when racking up two seconds during October but he doesn’t like being hurried early.

“He’s had only 11 starts so he’s not that experienced.”