
Tommy Lincoln … loves rolling in front in sprint trips. PHOTO: Race Images.
Tommy poised to go wire to wire on Tuesday and Dealer’s class should shine through
Speedster Tommy Lincoln is beautifully placed to open Lincoln Farms’ Brisbane carnival assault on a winning note at Albion Park on Tuesday.
And classy three-year-old American Dealer needs only an ounce of luck from the second line to make it an opening double later in the night.
The scratching of Imasportsstar in the sixth race brings Tommy Lincoln in to two on the front row from where he looks a certain leader, pole runner Oyster Stride devoid of gate speed.
“He does look well placed,” says Green. “And if he leads, he’ll be hard to beat.”
Green says Tommy Lincoln has shown he is in good shape in training since arriving in Queensland and his host Mark Dux, who takes the reins on Tuesday, has driven the horse in work.
“Mark has a good handle on him now and he’s a good driver, very experienced.”
Tommy Lincoln is too fast for Star Galleria and Dance Time in a 1:54.4 mile at Auckland last October, one of his four wins this season. PHOTO: Megan Liefting.Tommy Lincoln, who has the scalps of Copy That and Star Galleria hanging on his belt from sprint trips in New Zealand, goes into the 1660 metre event on the back of an excellent sixth in the Four-Year-Old Emerald on Harness Jewels day at Cambridge on June 6.
Burned early to cross Kango, Tommy Lincoln then took a trail on eventual winner South Coast Arden at the bell and battled bravely in the straight to finish only four lengths from the winner, himself pacing the mile in 1:52.5.
“He won’t have to run that fast on Tuesday.”
The main dangers look to be up-and-comer Ranger Bomb, but he hasn’t raced for more than four months and has to start from the outside of the front row, and The Hervey Bay, who paced a huge race wide when scoring in a 1:53.4 mile rate at Albion Park in March.
Green hasn’t planned on tackling the feature Wondai’s Mate 1660 on Saturday week when stablemate Copy That will clash with leading Australians King Of Swing, Expensive Ego and Spirit Of St Louis, but says Tuesday’s performance will help tell him where the horse sits on the pecking order.
American Dealer drives up the passing lane to down It’s All About Faith at Ashburton, clocking 1:53.3.The same applies to American Dealer who tackles rating 62 to 69 rivals from two on the second row in the ninth race.
“If he’s on top of his game I think he’ll be too good for them,” says Green.
American Dealer turned in a baffling and uncharacteristic fifth in his latest start on Jewels day at Cambridge, driver David Butcher reporting he felt flat the whole way.
It was one of the worst runs of his career which has been studded with superlative performances, often from bad alleys.
“A lot of horses didn’t perform on Jewels day so I’ve just put the line through it.
“He’s in good shape and I’m sure he’ll go well.”
American Dealer proved he was potent over a mile when clocking 1:53.3 at Ashburton last October, beating It’s All About Faith and Krug.
Green believes recent Kiwi import Rocknroll King, formerly trained in the south by Kirsten Barclay and Tank Ellis, could be the one to beat from the pole after his recent brace of wins at Albion Park.
Tommy Lincoln races at 6.03pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
American Dealer races at 7.52pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
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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.”

