Tommy has the Will but second row draw on Saturday night makes it tougher
By Barry Lichter • 16 September 2021
Tommy Lincoln mighty have drawn badly but trainer Mark Dux is confident he will run boldly again on Saturday night after placing in one of the fastest miles ever run at Albion Park last week.
Dux expertly predicted Tommy Lincoln would get the run of the race in the one-one last Saturday and when top junior Angus Garrard produced Tommy Lincoln he made ground strongly to be the best of Will The Wizard’s rivals in a sizzling 1:50.6 mile rate.
The time for the 1660 metres was just two tenths of a second outside the track record jointly held by champion pacer Themightyquinn (2014) and Cruz (2020) and further underlined Dux’s belief that Tommy would now continue to hold his own in the free-for-all grade.
While beaten 12.5 metres by Will The Wizard, who reeled off successive quarters in 27.2, 28.3, 26.9 and 28.2, Tommy Lincoln did well considering he had to come wide to make his run.
“It would have been nice to have been on the fence rather than coming around them but he raced terrific.
“I keep scratching my head about why people are thinking twice about buying him. What more can he do? If you wanted to buy one, there’s nothing wrong with him.”
Dux knows Tommy’s task will be harder this week as the sole horse on the second row.
“But there’s a bit of speed in the race and they’ll go solid again. Getting through the traffic will be the problem - he’s got to get round the slow ones - and when they’re running such fast times you can’t afford to be going backwards.”
The key to the race, says Dux, is what kind of a run Will The Wizard gets from the outside of the gate.
“If he goes straight to the top we can’t beat him. We’ll be a lot further back this week and you can’t take off a long way from home.
“But Franco Hampton has a lot of speed and they may park Will The Wizard. If they do, he’s no good thing.”
Tommy Lincoln races at 10.10pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Nathan’s comments
Thurday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Dreams Of Eric
6.03pm
“He’s just come back from a two-week break and seems a lot better after the freshen-up. He’s training really well but this will be like a trial for him. There looks to be a lot of speed in the race so, from five, he won’t be put into the early rush. We’re still aiming him at the Harness 5000 at Ashburton in December.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Kevin Kline
4.44pm
“He was held up last week but still got home really well, hard on their backs and, with the right trip, he’ll be dangerous. But the race looks suited to a horse like Hooray Henry who, in a small field, can sit back and outsprint them.
Race 9: Tyson
8.54pm
“We were looking to sit in with him last week but it didn’t work out. He still ran on pretty well as he always does. He just needs a bit of luck.”
Race 9: Debbie Lincoln
8.54pm
“Maurice was happy with her run last week and said she paced strongly through the line. From seven on the gate this week she’ll have to go back but I think she’s better coming from off the pace. She’s a good chance if she can get sucked into it at the right time.”
