Al just has some tinkering to do with Billy then he’ll be winning them in a row
By Barry Lichter • 18 September 2019
Billy Lincoln did a bit wrong but still showed in easily taking his trial at Albion Park yesterday that he is a winner-in-waiting.
The latest recruit to Lincoln Farms’ Queensland team with Al Barnes completely dominated his 1660 metre heat, getting home by 8.4 metres in a mile rate of 1:57.5.
The three-year-old wasn’t rushed out from the pole by driver Hayden Barnes who took an early trail behind Delight Of Rani, before going round to lead a couple of hundred metres later.
Billy Lincoln paced strongly throughout, easing out to a four length lead 400 metres from home, and was untested in the straight to win comfortably.
Billy Lincoln … out on his own and cruising for driver Hayden Barnes.“He went 1:57 easily and his fitness can improve too so he’ll be winning first-up in a couple of weeks,” says Barnes.
“We’ve just got some fine tuning to do first. He paced a bit roughly on the first and last turn when he got on his knee a bit and Hayden had to grab hold. You could see marks high up on his knee boot.
“He’s a big, dopey bugger who is quite green but on what he showed today he will reel off a nice mile. He’ll go 1:55 and will certainly string a few (wins) together.
“But he’s still growing - he’s a bit gappy in the joints - and we won’t see him bloom until he’s a late three-year-old or four-year-old.
“He’ll keep trialling until he’s doing things right but he should be at the races in a few weeks.”
Billy Lincoln ran home his last 800 metres in 57.9 and 400 in 29.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Johnny Lincoln
5.39pm
“He didn’t do anything at Auckland last start but seems to go better left-handed and placed at Cambridge in his only start there.”
Race 2: Lincoln Maree
5.39pm
“Her driver (Harrison Orange) said she would have won last start had that horse (Mr Miki) not stopped in her face. The winner was gone by the time she saw daylight. She will just need some luck from the second row draw.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.39pm
“He should have won last start at Auckland but we’ve taken the blinds off on Friday night and, in a weaker line-up, going left-handed, we’ll see how he goes.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.37pm
“I think the race will be won or lost soon after the start. It’s out of our control, we just have to hope she gets a run through and then I’m sure she’ll be hard to beat.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.40pm
“She’s got a little bit of lick but only has a short sprint, so timing is everything.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.40pm
“Being put in the race from the start last time obviously took a bit of the sting out of him. But at least there’s no chance that will happen this time from the second row. In his previous races he’d ducked for cover and got sucked along but he needs a decent tempo, he’s no sit-sprinter.”
