Billy Lincoln strides out for Tim Tetrick at Gaitway Farm in New Jersey today.
Billy Lincoln paces fast 1:53 in New Jersey qualifier, living right up to our Al’s predictions
By Barry Lichter • 3 June 2020
Former Lincoln Farms three-year-old Billy Lincoln made a splash when qualifying at Gaitway Farm in New Jersey today.
Sold last November after notching three wins and three seconds in seven starts for Queensland trainer Al Barnes, Billy Lincoln paced a swift 1:53 flat mile in running second to another former Kiwi, Mako Banner who clocked 1:52.6.
Driven by champion reinsman Tim Tetrick, Billy Lincoln closed his last half in 28.2 to run the fourth equal fastest mile of the day when 14 heats were run.
Mako Banner (Mach Three - Regal Banner) while now a nine-year-old veteran, won three of his six races here for Graeme Anderson, and 15 races in Australia before being sold to the States where he has won another three times.
Billy Lincoln, on the other hand is an untapped talent, having raced only 11 times, and pleased his new trainer Tahnee Camilleri with his forward showing.
That’s no surprise to Barnes who, while pleased to have secured a healthy five figure sum for Lincoln Farms, was sorry to see the horse go.
“In another three months I reckon he’ll be a different horse,” he said at the time.
“I know it’s a big call but he might have made a derby horse in six months. He’s just got better and better and better. And there’s still so much improvement left in him.”
Billy Lincoln, by leading sire Bettor’s Delight, is out of Ginnie Moon, whose dam Armbro Innocence won 15 races.
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Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
What’s Up The Hill.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
5.09pm
“She’s working really well and, from the good draw, hopefully she can run a drum. The field’s not that much harder than the one she beat last time at Manawatu (when parked for the last lap).”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
5.09pm
“We’re very happy with him - he’s come back a better horse. He went well at Auckland last start and is working well. We’ll be looking to go forward from the gate and hopefully get a gun run through behind Onyx Shard. On ability, he’s the better chance of the two.”
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.39pm
“He stepped like a bullet in his first go from a stand here in March. I thought he’d do the same on the second day but he galloped. We’ve got an overcheck on and hopple shorteners on Tuesday so he should make a good beginning. If he can step and lead, then maybe take a trail, he should be hard to beat. He likes it down there where the track is quite soft.”
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.04pm
“I thought I had Kevin Kline covered on Tuesday when we got to the straight because she was really travelling but he kicked away on us. It would be nice if she can get out of the gate as well again - she has good gate speed - and, if she does, she can get some of it again.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
6.04pm
“He was too good for them on Tuesday, thanks to a great Fergy drive, and he’s in the same field again this time. The extra distance and wide draw shouldn’t make much of a difference and he’s our best of the night.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.02pm
“He’ll be hard to beat again if he steps like he did on Tuesday. The 10 metre handicap shouldn’t stop him. I think he’s even better if he follows something and the extra 500 metres isn’t a worry.”
