Tommy Lincoln in terrific form but he’s at the mercy of the pole runner on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 25 September 2021
Drawn the inside of the second row, Tommy Lincoln’s chances rest solely with the horse he follows out at Albion Park on Saturday night.
If Jeradas Delight holds the front, Tommy instantly becomes a live winning chance from the trail.
If the mare hands up, and puts Tommy three deep, he’s realistically only running for a place.
Trainer-driver Mark Dux says that’s the case in a nutshell for Tommy Lincoln who is racing right at the top of his game.
“I’m not sure how much gate speed Jeradas Delight has - she’s rarely drawn the front line - but I’m sure they wont want to be too far back with her.
“It will all come down to how quickly she comes out. She’s quite a good mare and would be a good one to follow.”
In her 24 starts in Queensland Jeradas Delight has racked up seven wins and 11 placings.
Brendan Barnes celebrates his win behind $151 longshot Jeradas Delight in the Golden Girl at Albion Park in July.Three starts back she sprung the upset of the season at Albion Park for driver Brendan Barnes when she downed top Kiwi mares Spellbound and Amazing Dream in the $100,000 Garrards Golden Girl, rating 1:52.5 for the 1660 metres.
Tommy’s best at Albion Park is a front-running 1:52.7 and he has since been just as effective at the longer 2138 metres, the distance of Saturday’s opening event.
“The 2138 metres will be no problem so long as he doesn’t fire up. It’s when he sees open spaces that’s his worst time.
“It’s a tricky alley but but he’s certainly going well enough to be among them.
“He was very good again last week. The leader (Will The Wizard) got away on us again but that was because the others couldn’t get us into the race.”
Angus Garrard has to go round his tiring rivals on Tommy Lincoln as leader Will The Wizard steals a march.When top junior Angus Garrard moved out from the one-one to lodge his challenge, the leader had set up an unassailable lead.
And it didn’t help when he contacted the off-side sulky tyre of Franco Hampton who was giving ground at the 500-metre mark. Tommy Lincoln then hung in near the 400m.
Tommy was still credited with faster closing sectionals than the winner, making up 3.2 metres on Will The Wizard and pacing home in 56.28 and 28.53, with the 1660 metres run in a mile rate of 1:51.7.
The previous week they ran even faster, Tommy finishing a 12.5 metre second to Will The Wizard who was only two tenths of a second outside the 1:50.4 track record jointly held by Im Themightyquinn and Cruz.
Tommy Lincoln just nabbed former Lincoln Farms’ flag bearer Northview Hustler in that event, the Hustler going on to run another ripper for Al Barnes last week when best of Turn It Up’s rivals after a one-one trip. The Hustler starts alongside Tommy on the second row on Saturday night.
Dux takes the reins on Tommy this week, Garrard committed to driving the Darren Weeks runner Speech Is Silver.
Tommy Lincoln races at 8.10pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Thoughts for Lincoln Farms’ groupie Margaret Rabbitt after Johnny Lincoln braves it out
Lincoln Wave super and Sammy Lincoln super unlucky - two three-year-olds worth following
Long wait over to see why Lincoln Wave and Sammy Lincoln are fancied by Lincoln Farms
Second row draws against Prince Lincoln and Spiritual Bliss but they’re still favourites
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Sammy Lincoln
5.48pm
“Sammy Lincoln has a bit more speed than Lincoln Wave - he’s very fast for a big, rangy horse - but he might be vulnerable on Friday - he could experience difficulty on the corners going right-handed. He won’t be a maiden for long.”
Race 2: Lincoln Wave
5.48pm
“I’d say he’d be the more reliable of our two. He was clearly our best two-year-old before he got injured and we’ve waited a long time for him. He’s a powerful colt and should have a bright future.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.13pm
“The seven draw is a bit awkward but he’s trained on really well since Cambridge and I’m picking he’ll go really well.”
Race 8: Tyson
8.38pm
“He had a week off after his last run at Auckland, but I don’t think he’ll be short of a run. He’ll come back into the fray as tough as ever.”
Race 8: Spiritual Bliss
8.38pm
“She was incredibly unlucky at Cambridge. The gap opened up for Harrison, he tried to push through, then it closed on him. If she led, she’d be the one to beat. She’s a nice mare and she’s pretty tough, she doesn’t give it up.”
Ray’s comments
Monday at Taupo
Race 2: Lincoln Maree
11.55am
“She’s been held up from awkward draws lately but gets the inside on Monday. She has limited ability but is racing really well and there are no superstars in the field. I think she’ll be fine on the grass as she’s good-gaited and wears no boots. She tries very hard and looks to have a decent show.”
Race 7: Lincoln Lover
2.17pm
“He’s the consummate tradesman, reliable and honest and deserves a win. He was only beaten by the passing lane runner last time after sitting parked for the last lap. He’s drawn to lead here and if he does that he’ll be hard to beat.”
