Tommy Lincoln, back from bone chip surgery, has won $51,455 this season.
Tommy’s not ready to slay any more giants just yet but he’s back on the battlefield
By Barry Lichter • 11 May 2021
Giant-killer Tommy Lincoln gets back on track at Auckland on Thursday night but trainer Ray Green doubts he’s ready to be doing any serious slaying just yet.
When Tommy Lincoln was last in work he claimed the scalps of Lincoln Farms’ superstar Copy That and topliner Star Galleria among his four wins and three seconds.
But the four-year-old was stopped in his tracks by bone chips in both front ankles which were surgically removed last December.
“He’s looking good again now,” says Green. “The prognosis for ankles is good, it’s bone chips in the knees that can be dodgy.”
Tommy Lincoln has shown no sign of soreness since resuming work and goes into Friday’s seventh race with three workouts under his belt, finishing second in his latest two behind talented types American Dealer and B D Joe.
Tommy Lincoln paces 1:54.4 in beating Star Galleria and Dance Time at Auckland last October. PHOTO: Megan Liefting.Last Saturday he showed his customary gate speed to lead and, after being attacked hard by Hot And Treacherous from the 400, rallied bravely to go under by only three-quarters of a length to B D Joe. The 2050 metres was cut out in a slick 1:58.7 mile rate with terrific closing sectionals of 56.9 and 26.5.
“He’ll go a good race on Friday, because he’s very honest, but I still think he’ll need a couple of starts to get really fit.
“He’s fronted up to some serious horses in the past but whether he’s fit enough to do that on Friday I would doubt. But you’ve got to start somewhere.”
Before his injury in December, Tommy had won $51,455 this season for his owners Shannon and Brenda Flay, Ian, Kathy and Daniel Parkinson, Debbie Sparks, Ray Menzies, Dennis Ebert, Ian Middleton and John and Lynne Street.
Captain Nemo, who was tailed off last in the same workout heat last Saturday, lands the pole in the opening race and that gives him at least some chance against much tougher opposition than he’s been racing.
Captain Nemo’s form line looks good, but it includes wins at Palmerston North and Cambridge against far inferior rivals.
“There are a few in there who are better than him,” says Green. “But if he holds up early from the good draw, and gets a nice trip, he’s capable of running a slot.”
Captain Nemo has a poor record at Alexandra Park with just two placings there from 17 starts.
Meanwhile, Green is set to trial Copy That at Pukekohe on Friday, on the lookout for another race for the champ before the Harness Jewels on June 6.
Speedster has sore foot
But American Dealer has been on the easy list since Saturday when he pulled a shoe in his paddock, stood on a nail and punctured the sole of his foot.
“He’s got a sore foot but hopefully it will resolve itself by tomorrow.
“It’s just an inconvenience. He’s fairly well advanced after his race last Friday.”
American Dealer might have run only fourth fresh-up, pacing 2:39.9, but his effort to come from last was exceptional as he scorched his last 800 metres in a seldom bettered 53.7 and 400 in 26.2, the same as winner Warloch.
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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.”
