Our tough Tommy’s ready to add to A$50,000 won in last campaign in Brisbane
By Barry Lichter • 20 January 2022
Tommy Lincoln hasn’t raced for three months but Queensland trainer Mark Dux is confident he will still acquit himself well at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Lincoln Farms’ tough five-year-old lines up in the fourth race, a $20,000 free-for-all over his favoured 2138 metres, from a perfect draw of two, which Dux says should see him in the money.
“We’ll cross the one, be in front, then I’ll play it by ear. I’ll see how he’s travelling and how much pressure they put on us.”
Dux says he’d be more confident with Tommy Lincoln had he been race fit like the two favourites, L L Cool J and Governor Jujon who ran the quinella last week in a swift 1:51.2 mile rate for 1660 metres.
“Those other two have race fitness on us but Tommy is a place chance for sure. He’s done enough in preparation for this to race well.”
Dux has trialled Tommy Lincoln twice in recent weeks.
“He had a quiet one the first week when fourth but last time I let him run home.”
Tommy Lincoln was driven hard to lead and fought strongly behind eventual winner Manila Playboy, who came off his back and ran closing sectionals of 54.8 and 26.5 to record a 1:53.1 mile rate and win by 1.6 metres.
While that might sound very fast for a trial, Dux says you can’t go in too underdone against the horses Tommy now faces.
“Tommy’s come through the trial well and this race will be a good pipe opener for him. They’re two nice horses he’s up against but Tommy’s no slouch and he’s not that far behind them.”
Dux points to Tommy’s run in September when he finished second to Will The Wizard in a 1:50.6 mile rate.
Dux reports Tommy has come back big and strong after his first four-month campaign in Quuensland when he raced 16 times and racked up five wins, five placings and A$50,000 in earnings.
“He needed a break. You’d love to race forever but you just can’t at the rate they’re going, it takes its toll going that fast every week.
“He had a couple of weeks off and has been back in work for 10 weeks. I’m really happy with him. I’ve had no dramas and he’s training well, but whatever he does this week he’ll improve on.”
Dux says Tommy will be even better placed next week in another $20,000 race for band two to band four horses, meaning the free-for-allers can’t run.
“Saturday’s race will tighten him up nicely.”
Lincoln Farms’ stablemate Captain Nemo had been coming along well in a new preparation too until he got sick.
“He got some sort of virus - he started running a temperature and his legs swelled up - so I gave him a week off.”
Tommy Lincoln races at 10.10pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
This is it, Sammy, the draw’s a bit of a pain but you can eat these non-winners for breakfast
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
