Tommy Lincoln, wearing spreaders, highballs in front at the Pukekohe workouts last Saturday.
Tommy’s fit now and he’s drawn to lead at Auckland on Friday night so look out!
By Barry Lichter • 14 November 2019
Drawn to lead and fitter for two runs back, Tommy Lincoln is the one to beat in the sixth race at Auckland on Friday night.
With the early scratching of pole runner Destined For Heaven, Tommy Lincoln starts from three, with only stablemate Hampton Banner and Hunter Bromac inside him.
And given the gate speed he has shown in the past, driver Andre Poutama should have no trouble taking the front, from where he will be extremely hard to get past.
Trainer Ray Green says the big son of American Ideal looks very fit now and showed in his last run at Auckland that he was in for a good season.
After trailing early, then being three back, driver David Butcher made a lightning move to wrest the lead at the 1500. And he succumbed only late to Barry Purdon’s Sole Ambition who enjoyed a perfect trail and sprint lane run at him, clocking a spectacular 2:39.7 for the 2200 metres.
Tommy, only a neck away at the line, did extremely well to run a mile rate of 1:56.8 given it was only his second run back from a spell.
But the three-year-old showed he had progressed further when leading all the way for Poutama at the Pukekohe workouts last Saturday, whipping home in 26.7.
Tommy Lincoln wore spreaders at Pukekohe and Green hopes they will provide the key at Auckland on Friday, helping him stay off his knee.
“He’s looking pretty fit and they’ll have a job to get past him on Friday - he’ll keep running.”
Hampton Banner … won easily but beat nothing at Cambridge. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.Friday’s rating 53 to 58 event will be a big test, however, for Hampton Banner.
He looked good winning his first race at Cambridge last start but as Green points out, he beat a poor lot.
“We’re throwing him in the deep end here but we have to find out what he can do.”
Hampton Banner led all the way at Cambridge and clocked a sedate mile rate of 2:00.4 for the 2200 metres but will have to go many seconds faster this time.
Double Or Nothing, Green’s third runner in the race, has the disadvantage of starting from three on the second row in what looks a useful field.
But Green says he deserves consideration on his recent efforts.
Last time at Cambridge he had to work had early from a wide draw and, despite siting parked, closed hard at the finish to be beaten only three-quarters of a length by pacemaker Simon in a 1:55.9 mile rate for the 1700 metres.
Green says you can forget his previous start, in Line Up’s Sires’ Stakes heat at Auckland, when he was “left out to dry” three wide with no cover in a 1:54 mile.
“You can’t condemn him on that run - it was the first time he hadn’t been in the money in his life.”
With Zachary Butcher opting to drive Barry Purdon’s filly Little Miss Perfect, the drive goes to James Stormont.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
