
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
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.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Copy Ten Four
5.52pm
“He got a bit tired last week but he didn’t stop. With a better draw this time, hopefully he’ll hold up in front and we can see what he’s got. He’s a good maiden and we haven’t seen the best of him yet, he’s a big horse who is still learning.”
Race 5: Colonel Lincoln
6.54pm
“You’d have to rate him the best horse in the field and he’s race fit now. And I thought he was pretty good last time. Drawing the outside makes it tougher but if Nathan (Delany) can secure a decent trip, he’d have to be a serious chance.”
Race 8: Leo Lincoln
8.23pm
“He’ll go another honest race but it’s hard to see him winning in that field where he’s at such a disadvantage in the ratings.”

