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: How our trainers rate them
Mark Dux’s comments
Wednesday night at Redcliffe
Race 1: Captain Nemo
7.17pm NZ time
“It’s a reasonable field, they’re not push-overs, but they’re all beatable. It will all come down to who gets the right trip. If we have something go our way we could get some of it as there’s not a lot between them and I don’t think he’s far off now. We’ve got a bad draw again and there’s a bit of speed inside us so I’ll tell Angus to just play it by ear.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln La Moose
7.32pm
“He’s a pretty good horse. He was still below his best last time at Cambridge - he needed the race - but went very well for second behind King’s Watch. With his ace draw, he should be right up there for Zac (Butcher). He always looked a bit delicate but he’s got tougher.”
Race 4: Obadiah Dragon
7.32pm
“He’ll go a good race but our others look better here. His last run was below par for him so we took a blood off him and he had a bit of a virus going on. He was at the tail end of it but it was enough to stop him.”
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.32pm
“Even if he’s half a run short, I don’t think it will matter, he’ll still be too good for this lot. He only had a mild virus which came right with treatment and he’s trained on well since. He feels pretty good and if I was betting man, I’d bet him for sure based on his last run, which was massive.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.32pm
“He’s in a ‘coming of age’ phase. He rushed up beside them last start and wanted to lay all over them and give them a hug. But that’s normal coltish behaviour. He does that in training as well, rushes up and switches off. He has a lot of ability but also a few little behaviour traits that we need to get on top of.”
Race 6: My Copy
8.24pm
“It won’t be easy from four on the second row but he’s very honest and, if opportunity knocks, he’ll be right there. If he gets a trip, he’s always ready to pounce.”
Race 9: Tyson
9.39pm
“He should be one of the favourites. The raw ability is there and he’ll definitely win races as he has a bit of speed. How far he will take us we have yet to find out but I thought he did really well last time given the run he had.”
