Billy primed to give young Jack an early career win at Cambridge on Wednesday

Rookie apprentice Jack Taplin will get his shot at an early career win when he teams with Billy Lincoln on the synthetic track at Cambridge on Wednesday.

Taplin, 21, who is apprenticed to Billy Lincoln’s trainer Stephen Marsh, had his first day’s riding last Saturday when teaming with Mercurial (fifth) and Harlech (sixth) at Te Rapa.

And Marsh believes that with his 4kg claim reducing Billy Lincoln’s weight to just 54.5kg, Taplin will have a good chance to strike.

Lincoln Farms’ speedy four-year-old will be getting a 6kg weight pull on in-form topweights Keegan and Sinhaman in the seventh race.

“It looks a lovely race for him,” Marsh said of Billy Lincoln who will be having his fourth run back after a wind operation last December.

“He was beaten only a short margin by a nice one in Lord Weyburn last time on the synthetic and he will only improve.”

Marsh reviewed the video footage of that June 4 race after the pacemaking Billy Lincoln came together with Lord Weyburn near the 200 metre mark and again at the 75 but, even though the margin was only a neck, he decided against protesting.

Billy Lincoln, who was ridden at 57kg by Rihaan Goyaram, also lost a right front plate in the running.

“He’s pulled up great from that run and, nicely enough drawn in six, he should get his chance.”

Taplin has been with Marsh for a couple of months after arriving from the Sunshine Coast where his former Southland parents Kerry and Ian Taplin now train.