It’s Tommy time! But brilliant Redcliffe track record posting was officially a smidgen out

“It’s all Tommy time! Tommy Lincoln big and strong.”

Commentator Chris Barsby was at his enthusiastic best when he called Lincoln Farms’ warrior home by nearly 10 metres at Redcliffe on Saturday night.

And so impressive was the horse in his front end demolition Barsby noted the time posted for the 1780 metres was a track record-equalling 1:53.3 mile rate.

The official result today, however, puts Tommy’s time at 1:53.4, meaning At West Point will hold his July, 2020 mark alone.

Tommy Lincoln is going strongly, nearly 10 metres clear of Jack William at the finish.No other pacer has threatened the time since a major facelift of the 833 metre triangle was completed in 2019, auguring well for Tommy’s future in the state.

And trainer Mark Dux says had driver Angus Garrard clicked Tommy up only a little, the record would have been his.

“How much he had left I don’t know but he was still strong on the line.”

Dux is also adamant that the best of the five-year-old won’t be seen until he returns to the bigger Albion Park track, which could be as soon as next week.

“They’re talking about racing at Albion Park next Friday afternoon - they can’t race at night there yet because they’re still having trouble with the power (after the flooding).”

Mark Dux … Tommy Lincoln will be competitive in the top grade.Dux says Tommy performed last night like he expected him to last week, and the issue was never in doubt after Garrard signalled his intentions clearly at the start.

“I didn’t expect him to run that time but I told him to drive him like he was the best horse and he did.

“Tommy’s always shown me he could do that with the right run. There’s no doubt he’ll be competitive against the best here. He’s not going to win out of turn, when he draws badly, but he’ll still earn plenty of cheques.”

Tommy hinted last August the top grade wouldn’t stop him when he downed Mach Da Vinci, “who was rated the next best thing since sliced bread.” Mach Da Vinci went on to win five in a row before returning to Sydney.

And his 2:05.4 clocking last night was 2.7 seconds faster than former Kiwi Star Galleria took in winning the open race 40 minutes later.

“It’s nice to have him going so well,” Dux said. “It was a tough run last night but he’s pulled up well and eaten all his breakfast.

“I’ll probably run him over a mile next Friday then maybe give him an easy week and miss the next race over 2138 metres.”

It was Tommy Lincoln’s sixth win since arriving in Queensland, and 14th in all, taking his earnings to more than A$160,000 for 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.

Track too tight for Nemo

Dux is keen to get Captain Nemo back to Albion Park too after he showed last night that the tight Redcliffe track is not really his cup of tea.

Though he won at the track the previous week, Dux says the horse doesn’t pace the best on the weirdly shaped track because he touches his knee a little round the corners.

Sent out the $3.50 favourite, Captain Nemo looked to be right in contention again when he moved up beside the leader down the back.

“Then, all of a sudden, he went a bit rough on the bend and that was the end of our race.

Louie The Punter could be racing in three weeks.“He went OK for fifth but there’s no question he doesn’t like the tight track.”

Dux also plans to change a few things, including the horse’s feed to prevent any historic tying-up, as he seemed to lack a little punch last night, he said.

Meanwhile, newcomer Louie The Punter has settled in well and is ready to have his work stepped up.

“The first week he was dull on the lead - but within a week he’d started to pull me along and now he’s got a bit of fire in him.

“He’s looking bright, is obviously feeeling good, and has put on a bit of weight.”

Dux expects the horse to be ready to race in about three weeks.

“But a big horse like him needs to be at Albion Park.”