Tommy Lincoln, spreaders on, scores all the way for driver Andre Poutama.
Spreaders do the trick for big Tommy who is worth following at Auckland on Friday
By Barry Lichter • 10 November 2019
Spreaders looked to help Tommy Lincoln when he blazed to an impressive all-the-way win at the Pukekohe workouts yesterday.
Wearing the gear to stop him from getting on a knee, which has hampered him this campaign, Tommy Lincoln never looked like putting a foot wrong as he burst to the early lead in the rating 52 to 66 mobile 2050 metre heat.
Driver Andre Poutama had Tommy pacing along sweetly throughout and he opened up in the run home to clock a closing 400 in a sizzling 26.7.
At the line he had a length and three-quarters to spare over trailer The Paua Diver, Dina Brown and Some Do who finished only necks apart, with the trip run in 2:35.1, a mile rate of 2:01.7.
Trainer Ray Green liked Tommy Lincoln’s closing split and fancies his chances at Auckland this week.
“Tommy’s got on a knee in both his starts this time in but he should be good to show us something on Friday.”
Ace Commander began fast from a stand in the rating 66 and faster trot, leading until the run home when gathered in by The Hulk who scored by a length.
In a close photo finish, Ace Commander held second by half a head over the classy Tickle Me Pink with Delson a nose back fourth, both running on stylishly late.
On the comeback trail after an operation for an entrapped epiglottis, Ace Commander had a high heart rate afterwards and trainer Ray Green says he’s still “a work in progress.”
Captain Nemo leads with Platinum Stride ranging alongside turning for home.Young Guns two-year-olds Captain Nemo, Platinum Stride and Bondi Shake all shaped up well in the two-year-old mile, run left handed.
Zachary Butcher found an easy early lead with Platinum Stride from four but handed up on the first turn to Captain Nemo and Andre Poutama. And that’s how they stayed, with Graeme Rogerson’s $190,000 sale topper Challenger next in the running and Bondi Shake (Andrew Drake) at the rear.
Butcher was out to challenge 600 metres from home and looked to be giving Platinum Stride a very easy time as he went across the line, Captain Nemo getting the judge’s nod by a nose.
There was one and a quarter lengths to Challenger and Dylan Ferguson and half a length to Bondi Shake who resented being hauled back at the start and came widest on the home turn.
The mile was cut out in 2:07.7, with the leading pair going 60.2 for the last 800 and 28.4 for the 400.
It was good effort in his first outing by Captain Nemo, a Captaintreacherous colt out of Arden Caviar, whom Green bought for $110,000 as a yearling in Christchurch in February.
Green has the trio, along with Vanquish Stride, headed for the first Young Guns’ heat at Auckland on December 13.
“It’s less than five weeks away so they’ll need to step up from now. But I’m sure they will, we haven’t pushed them yet.”
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
