Tommy top three chance on Saturday so long as they run along and he gets a lung full of air

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 .