Menu

The Hidez hood is said to apply compression to acupressure and endorphin release points.

Mark reaches for compression hood to help Tommy settle over longer trip on Thursday

Tommy Lincoln will wear a special compression hood at Albion Park on Thursday to hopefully help him last the 2647 metres.

Lincoln Farms’ five-year-old has only five rivals in the early afternoon opening race, which will be run from a stand, a rarity in Queensland.

And, while he has shown he can begin quickly in his only three attempts behind the tapes in New Zealand, trainer Mark Dux acknowledges there is a real query over whether he can run longer trips.

The keen-going pacer failed in each of his three 2700 metre starts at Alexandra Park, admittedly against far stronger rivals, the reason Dux has reached for the new headgear.

“I’m going to try him in a Hidez compression hood, which goes over his ears, to see if he’ll settle a bit more and that will help him run the trip.”

Angus Garrard drives Tommy Lincoln again on Thursday. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Angus Garrard drives Tommy Lincoln again on Thursday. PHOTO: Dan Costello.The hood, made by Australian company Hidez which also markets full body compression suits, is claimed to help promote calmness and focus in nervous, unsettled, or anxious horses.

Hidez promotional material says it applies compression to acupressure points, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and endorphin release points in the horse’s head and poll.

The compression hood with ears has the entire ear area lined with 3mm neoprene to reduce sound.

“He wore the hood when I trialled him last Friday and he seemed good with it on.

“We’ve always tried to keep him to the shorter trips, and the longer trip is a bit of a worry, but the only way to find out is to race him. He may not handle it.”

Redcliffe Cup target

Dux says Tommy needs to run from a stand on Thursday to enable him to tackle the A$106,000 Redcliffe Gold Cup (2613m) on June 25.

“He needs to have had one stand start in the last eight months to be eligible for that race, which I thought would be a good option for him because he’d probably be in front.

“The races at this time of year get harder and harder and if we think he’s in trouble at the distance we’ll switch to plan B and target slightly easier races.”

Thursday’s race is one of the easiest Tommy has struck for a while with three far lower rated horses on the front and two others sharing the 20 metre back mark with him.

Of those on the front tape, only former Kiwi Another Statement looks a threat. The other two can’t win, says Dux, one his own horse Sweet As was entered only to ensure the race got off the ground.

Captain Crusader gets closest to American Dealer in last year’s Queensland Derby.Captain Crusader gets closest to American Dealer in last year’s Queensland Derby.Fellow 20 metre marker Captain Crusader is definitely the one to beat, says Dux.

The Sydneysider is in good form, won a 2138 metre stand start trial at Albion Park on May 31, and last Saturday night finished a close third behind Infatuation and Another Statement in a 1:53.2 mile rate.

Captain Crusader showed he could run out a strong 2680 metres when runner-up to Lincoln Farms’ American Dealer in last year’s Queensland Derby. And he filled the same placing behind the Dealer in both the South East Derby and Rising Sun Consolation.

It’s been a month between runs for Tommy because of the drenching the state has had but Dux says he’s not far off the mark.

“I would like him to have missed no work but he showed he was going well in last Friday’s trial.”

Taken to the early lead over 1660 metres, Tommy Lincoln then trailed former Kiwi The Honey Queen before she in turn handed up to gun pacer Spirit Of St Louis.

That’s the order in which they finished, Tommy only 5.7 metres from the winner who paced a slick 1:53.7 mile rate, with closing sectionals of 55.9 and 26.6.

“It was a pretty nice trial.”

Dux is hoping Tommy can get the trip on Thursday because, if he begins as fast as he did when beating stablemate Copy That in the 2020 Summer Cup (stand, 2200m) at Alexandra Park, he will give a big sight.

Tommy Lincoln races at Albion Park at 1.05pm NZ time at Albion Park.Tommy Lincoln races at Albion Park at 1.05pm NZ time at Albion Park.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Thursday night at Cambridge

Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm

“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”

Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm

“She didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm

“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”

Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm

“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”

Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm

“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”

Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm

“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”

Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm

“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”

Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm

“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”

Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm

“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”

Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm

“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”

Dan Costello Race Photography