Ray Green holds the Golden Trophy after Tyson’s last, and biggest, win at Auckland. PHOTO: Therese Davis/Race Images.
Bags packed for Aussie - Ray’s ‘real racehorse’ Tyson sold to Albion Park boss
By Barry Lichter • 5 February 2026
Iron pacer Tyson has been sold to Queensland and co-trainer Ray Green admits he’ll be sorry to see him go.
The Art Major four-year-old, whom Green describes as ‘a real racehorse’, has been bought by Albion Park chairman Greg Mitchell and is destined for the Brisbane stable of Grant Dixon.
“He’d be one of our better horses to go to Brisbane,” Green said.
“He won’t set the world on fire but he’ll give them a lot of fun and they’ll be able to race him regularly.
“He just thrives on racing. He has a tremendous heart rate recovery so you can back him up as often as you like.”
That’s exactly what Green did last year, racing Tyson 27 times - including three times in July, five times in August, every week through September and October, three times in November and each week in December.
Tyson ranges alongside Debbie Lincoln near the finish of the $50,000 Golden Gait Three-Year-Old. PHOTO: Therese Davis/Race Images.And it was in that last month, after an ultra busy six months that Tyson scored his best win in the $50,000 Golden Gait Three-Year-Old over stablemate Debbie Lincoln whom he’s ironically sure to meet in Brisbane, also her new home.
In all his 36 starts at two and three, Tyson finished further back than fifth only nine times.
In all he notched five wins and 11 placings, earning $90,860 for breeder Pat Laboyrie and Green who liked the look of the horse when inspecting him in a paddock.
Green said you’d go a long way to find a more genuine racehorse than Tyson who loved nothing better than doing it hard outside the leader - “and he’s never taken a lame step.”
But Tyson was now on the cusp of having to race against the best horses in the north.
“He’s not capable of sitting outside a Jolimont or Merlin and winning.
“We’ll find it hard to get suitable races for him here now so it made sense to move him on.
“They’ve got a better system over there so he’ll get plenty of opportunities. And he’ll suit their style of racing - they tend to launch them.”
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
