Tommy Lincoln just fails to catch his former stablemate Northview Hustler last start as a $40 outsider.
Mission impossible for Tommy tonight as terrible draws dog Dux at the Creek
By Barry Lichter • 10 December 2022
It’s mission impossible for Tommy Lincoln at Albion Park tonight when he tackles a very strong field in the Lord Mayors Cup from a very bad draw.
Trainer Mark Dux was ruing his bad luck when the fields came out - two of his three runners have drawn the outside of the back row and Tommy Lincoln is widest on the front line.
“That’s a terrible alley for him. We’ll go back, well, hopefully we can get him back, drive him cold, and hope for a lot of luck in the running.”
Frustrating for Dux is the fact Tommy is coming off one of his best runs in a long time when, as a $40 outsider last start, he went down by only half a neck to Northview Hustler.
The run justified Dux’s pe-race belief that Tommy could feature, given half decent luck.
“He’s been running times as good as any of them but on Saturday night, from the draw, it’ll be near impossible for him.
“There’s nothing missing in that field, it’s the best of what’s going around at the moment, and with a full field of 12 runners we’re going to end up right at the tail.
“Northview Hustler and Mach da Vinci will come out and I’m picking Pete McMullen will chime in at some stage on Blacksadance.
“It would be good for us if they go silly but, if they walk and sprint home, we could run home in 26 and still be out the back.”
That said, Dux still believes Tommy will race well - “the only time he doesn’t is when he cuts off his air”.
Tommy is likely to sit out next week’s Christmas Cup, because it is over the longer 2680 metre trip.
Tommy Lincoln races at 10.36pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Les Harding
Monday at Globe Derby
Race 6: Beaudiene Rocknroll
6.34pm NZ time
This race will tell us how he measures up against the local horses. We decided to go for this lower graded race, despite having lower prize money, instead of going to the trials one more time. He won the second of two trials on April 21, beating race rival Hezrockinroyalty by four metres. Run over 2230 metres he clocked 57.7 for his last half and 1:59.7 for his last mile. From the pole he’ll start short and be hard to beat.
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 7: Lincoln Lou
8.25pm
“He’s a beautiful little horse who doesn’t do anything wrong. He got held up at a crucial time last week and got home well (for sixth). He gets out pretty well so should get a good trip from two. He’ll go his usual honest race. He’s improving all the time, he’s a gutsy little guy, but whether he can measure up to the favourites remains to be seen.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.25pm
“He’s a work in progress and we’re still dabbling with his gear. He’s actually a naturally good-gaited horse, like all the American Ideals, but he’s going through a stage of not really knowing why he’s out there. You just don’t know when he’ll click but three is an ideal draw for him and he should be handy if he does things right.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
9.20pm
“He’s an under-rated horse, as good as those others who are higher rated. He’s proving to be a tidy horse and, while he’s not viewed as a serious player by some, I think he is. He was closing off really well last week behind Hugotastic.”
