On-pace runners dominate at Redcliffe, 36km north of Brisbane.
Tommy shipwrecked by terrible barrier draw at Redcliffe on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 16 June 2022
Any chance Tommy Lincoln had at Redcliffe on Friday night disappeared with the barrier draw.
Stranded at five on the second line over the 2280 metre sprint, trainer Mark Dux knows he has almost no chance of featuring in the A$31,000 Group III Patron’s Purse for four and five-year-olds.
“A draw like that kills you, especially at Redcliffe,” Dux said. “It’s a good field and he’s got a bad draw.
“I’ve got no option but to drive him cold. I’ll try to take short cuts, hope he can get splits and get the best cheque we can, but we won’t get much.”
Back-runners have virtually no chance on the tight, triangular Redcliffe track.Dux is wondering what he did to offend the racing gods - all four of his runners on Wednesday night drew terribly - and while he philosophically says “we have to play the cards we’re dealt” he knows Tommy has almost no show on the tight and turning circuit.
“Captain Crusader will lead from one and if there isn’t enough pressure he’ll run a 55 half. If you’re not in the first three or four in the running, you’re out of play.”
About his only chance, says Dux, is if the leaders go silly and walk home, but that rarely happens in Queensland.
The race-wrecking draw is all the more frustrating because Dux says he’s really happy with Tommy.
“I was happy with his last run and he’s done terrific since.”
Having his first standing start for 17 months, Tommy was a bit out of practice, galloping away.
“He just took a backward step when they said go. But I was pleased with him afterwards. He put in a funny step halfway round the bend - he was hanging a bit - but he felt strong all the way.”
Tommy battled away for fourth behind Captain Crusader at the finish of the 2647 metres, clocking very respectable closing sectionals of 54.8 and 26.99.
“He can go with the best of them but it’s so hard when you draw badly. It’s going to be hard finding the right race for him in the next month or so and I’ll be happy if he can race in the B divisions rather than against the best.”
Meanwhile, Dux is hoping to get a race for Captain Nemo next Tuesday after his event didn’t get off the ground last week.
“I was going to trial him last Tuesday but he was a bit off colour the day before so I didn’t run.”
Tommy Lincoln races at 9.45pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Friday night.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
