Tommy terrific but he’ll need all the luck just to run a hole at Albion Park on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 9 September 2022
Tommy Lincoln has only six rivals at Albion Park on Saturday night but such is the strength of the field he’ll be doing well just to run top four.
That, despite Tommy having resumed last week with a fine, albeit distant, second to track record-holder Blacksadance.
This week he faces not only Blacksadance, but also former New Zealand Cup winner Cruz Bromac, who is drawn to lead, former Lincoln Farms’ iron horse Northview Hustler and Will The Wizard.
Trainer Mark Dux is under no illusions about the task ahead of Tommy from the middle of the front row.
“But I think he’ll race well - I’m hoping he can run top three, or top four at worst. His run the other night was terrific and it will have done him good.”
In his first start for two months, Tommy enjoyed a one-one sit but still finished 19 metres astern of Blacksadance who clocked a sizzling 1:50.7 mile rate for the 1660 metres.
Tommy clocked closing quarters of 27.42 and 28.35, Dux saying driver Angus Garrard was forced to move three wide at the 400, earlier than he wanted because the one in front of him was going nowhere.
“They’ll run a similar time this week and that means you can’t do that much work in the run and still have a finish.
“It will all come down to how the race is run. If Cruz Bromac holds the lead, and Blacksadance is outside him, we could get the one-one.
“But if Cruz hands up, we’ll have to go four fence. I don’t want Tommy to be sitting parked if they go 1:50 something like last week. But even if we do end up four fence, he could still earn a good cheque.”
Dux said he didn’t believe there was a lot between the seven runners.
“The whole field can run 54 halves. You used to be able to sit in and dash late but you can’t any more because they’re running so fast. They’re running near track record times.
“But Tommy will always be competitive. It’s not often he doesn’t run a good race.”
Blacksadance’s track record mile rate of 1:50 flat was set back in April, when Northview Hustler ran second and Tommy Lincoln fourth from the pole.
Tommy Lincoln races at 11.50pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
