Tommy Lincoln is hard on the gate as they score up for last week’s Queensland Cup.
Tommy top three chance on Saturday so long as they run along and he gets a lung full of air
By Barry Lichter • 18 November 2022
Trainer Mark Dux is expecting a better effort from Tommy Lincoln when he lines up over his preferred mile at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Lincoln Farms’ five-year-old tailed the field home in last Saturday night’s Queensland Cup, which saw the 2138 metres run in a hectic 1:52.9 mile rate.
That’s the same time as they clocked when Tommy ran a fine second to Blacksadance the previous week over only 1660 metres.
But Dux suspects it was more than just the extra trip which found Tommy out.
“I think when Mathew grabbed him early he might have half cut his air off because I didn’t think he was travelling any good and he was blowing pretty hard after the race.
“That’s always been a bit of an issue with him. You’ve got to let him do his thing. It doesn’t take much with him, it’s a fine line.”
While Tommy Lincoln ended up getting a sweet one-one trail, he had to come three wide when Blacksadance surprisingly faded before the turn, then he had nothing left in the run home.
Dux believes, with an ounce of luck, Tommy can run top three on Saturday night when he takes on five horses who all beat him home last week.
“He won’t be able to cross them from three - Star Galleria is pretty good off the gate and I think Big Wheels will lead and be the one to beat.
“Hopefully we can come across behind them and run three fence, which isn’t a bad spot for him.
“The week before when he finished second he sat three fence and ran past Mach Da Vinci, who won last week.”
Dux doesn’t see much pressure in the race, however, and says if they walk and only get going at the 400, Tommy will struggle to pick them up.
“Hopefully they’ll roll down the back, which will open it up a little bit, and put us in the race.
“There’s not a huge gap between these horses and it comes down to the draws and which one gets a better trip.”
Tommy Lincoln races at 1am Sunday morning NZ time at Albion Park .
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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.”
