Mark hoping new bit will help keep Tommy and the punters ‘happy’ on Saturday night

Trainer Mark Dux is hoping a new “happy bit” will help Tommy Lincoln relax better and run in the money at Albion Park on Saturday night.

Dux will also instruct Mathew Neilson to drive the horse cold in the seventh race to hopefully prevent him from over-racing.

Dux has been experimenting with different mouth bits since Tommy weakened to fourth in his last start two weeks ago.

Restrained to trail Northview Hustler when driver Angus Garrard thought he was going too hard, Tommy refused to settle, pulling himself into the ground.

“He normally settles on the back of a helmet but he over-raced so much the other night.

“I’ve been trying a few different things at home to get him to settle better. I tried keeping his mouth shut with a crossover nose band, but he didn’t really like it, and I’ve tried a few different bits.

A jointed happy bit like the one Tommy Lincoln will wear on Saturday night.“But Tommy’s Tommy and you can’t mess with him too much, he’s a creature of habit.

“You can’t be too tough on him, you’ve got to work with him and be gentle.”

A new, synthetic rubber happy bit would hopefully have the desired effect this week, he said.

“He’s getting nore relaxed at home but come race night when they all charge out, who knows?

“He used to be a lot more settled but going fast times week after week has got him running all the time.

“I want him to be driven a bit cold early on Saturday night because I know, if he relaxes, he’ll finish the race off well.”

While Tommy has a handy draw of three, Dux says he doesn’t want him contesting the early section with Love Your Work who will be desperate to hold up from two.

“If a couple charge out from out wide like Will The Wizard or Northview Hustler, and try to cross, then Tommy could tuck in behind and that would be ideal.

“If that happens, I expect he’ll race well. He got tired only in the last 50 metres last time.

“I’d like to think he can run top three if he settles a little bit better - he can be strong at the finish. You just can’t expect them to run 26 quarters after pulling, especially over 2138 metres.”

While beaten 13.6 metres, Tommy was still clocked over his last 800 metres in 55.15, compared with the Hustler’s winning sectional of 54.5.

Back to 1660 metres this week, Dux is expecting a better effort.

“Hustler will be hard to beat again and, while Love Your Work steps up in class, he’s been running the times - he went 1:50.9 last week.

“I’m happy with Tommy. It was a tough run for him last time but he’s freshened up well.”

Nemo doing well again

Dux is also very pleased with Lincoln Farms’ stablemate Captain Nemo who has been back in work for seven weeks.

“He had a little virus and a temperature and he’d been up for a long time, and had a lot of racing, so he needed a break.

“He’s done really well and looks terrific. He’s starting to act like a colt now too, he’s full of beans.”