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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Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
4.59pm
“He’s racing well and I can’t fault him. The opposition is stronger this time but I can’t see why he won’t go another good race.”
Race 3: Spiritual Bliss
5.59pm
“She’s a good, tough mare. It depends on the trip you get in these sort of races but she loves it when they run hard and she can get some of the money.”
Race 3: Ultimate Cullect
5.59pm
“We haven’t had a lot of time to assess her yet. From the one drive I’ve had on her she doesn’t strike me as a sit-sprinter. But if they go hard, hopefully she’ll get home well.”
Race 5: Lincoln Maree
6.57pm
“It’s a “brutal” race but she’s drawn to get a suck along and hopefully she can last well enough for a cheque.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.29pm
“There are a few in there that are better than him but he has a handicap advantage and, if he gets a good trip, he could get some of it. He steps well and his driver reckoned he would have won last week if he’d got the run at the right time.”
Race 10: Sammy Lincoln
9.23pm
“I can’t imagine him being beaten - they’d have to knock him over. He’s very fast and in case he has to move quickly early we’ll use the shorteners. I can’t see any problem with him going left-handed - he’s probably better that way.”
Race 11: Rivergirl Bella
9.54pm
“She’s honest and will try hard.”
