Mark: Tommy should be right in the thick of things again on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 9 September 2021
Bouyed by Tommy Lincoln’s excellent last start fourth, trainer Mark Dux can see Lincoln Farms’ charge right in the thick of the fight again on Saturday night.
And Dux can see one likely scenario that would put the reliable fighter in a perfect spot in the running of the fourth race.
Two weeks ago, from the widest alley, Tommy Lincoln was forced to ease to last, four back on the outer.
“It was near impossible for him to catch them from there,” Dux said. “If they’d gone quicker it would have been a different ball game.”
Tommy Lincoln’s closing sectionals were excellent last start.With the 2138 metres run only in a 1:55.5 mile rate, Tommy Lincoln did exceptionally well to close to 4.3 metres of the winner Our Uncle Sam, making up 10.7 metres on the leaders over the last 800 metres, three and four wide when mounting his run.
His closing 800 metres of 54.27 was one hundredth of a second slower then the winner and his final 400 metres of 26.75 was faster than Our Uncle Sam, who nosed out Will The Wizard and Mach Da Vinci in a blanket finish.
“I was really happy with his run,” Dux said. “They can all get home so quick but he’s only got to be a little closer in the running to beat them.
“On Saturday night I can see him getting a fairly good trip from five.
“If Will The Wizard holds the lead, like last week, and Crunch Time comes across - and there’s no reason they’d change their racing pattern - he could get the one-one and then he’d be right in the thick of things.”
Tommy Lincoln, who has won five of his nine starts in Queensland, rated 1:54.9 when winning over 2138 metres at his previous start. And three of his wins have been at 1660 metres, the distance on Saturday night, his best a 1:52.7 clocking in July.
Two of his wins have been with Saturday’s pilot Angus Garrard in the cart, the gun junior posting his 300th winner earlier in the week.
Dux reports Tommy Lincoln to be in good heart after a week out of the racing cauldron.
“He had an easy week last week but he trained well on Wednesday.”
Tommy Lincoln races at 9.42pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Wednesday at Auckland
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
5.10pm
“I can’t believe he’s not picked in four (on the HRNZ website). He actually headed Cyclone Rebel last start but switched off. We’ve added sliding blinds which seem to have helped in training and he’s got to be a good each-way chance. He just needs a bit of luck from six on the gate.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
5.10pm
“He’ll need some luck from the outside but hopefully he can still get a cheque. He doesn’t have as much speed as Prince Lincoln.”
Race 7: Spiritual Bliss
6pm
“I think she’ll be able to handle the rise in class. She’s a pretty good mare who keeps finding when the pressure goes on. It won’t be easy but she has a good draw and has already run a mile in 1:55.3.”
Race 7: Debbie Lincoln
6pm
“It’s hard to know how she compares with Spiritual Bliss but I think they’re both chances. Debbie Lincoln is still the fastest three-year-old to win over 1700 metres around Alexandra Park and she was excellent again when just pipped by Tyson last time.”
Race 12: Tyson
8.38pm
“The rise in class won’t stop him. If they go a bit harder, he can still run a 56 half off a solid pace. He’s improving all the time, more than I thought he would. He could easily win again.”
Race 12: Leo Lincoln
8.38pm
“We threw him in the deep end first-up when he really needed another trial. That race will bring him on a bit but I think he’ll need another before we see him at his best.”
