Ears exposed but don’t let Tyson bite you on debut at Cambridge on Friday night

Trainer Ray Green isn’t expecting Tyson to deliver a knockout blow when he debuts at Cambridge on Friday night.

But at the same time he warns not to take any notice of the colt’s poor trial at Alexandra Park early last month when he tailed the field home by nearly 10 lengths.

Green, who races the two-year-old with breeder Pat Laboyrie, says he made a mistake trying the colt in a Hidez compression hood at Auckland.

The headgear which covers the ears and is lined with 3mm neoprene to reduce sound, as well as applying compression to acupressure and endorphin release points, is designed to calm nervy horses.

“It did that all right, he went to sleep in it,” Green said.

Tyson showed much more fight when trialled a second time at Pukekohe 12 days ago, leading his only rival Miki Doo over 2050 metres and clearing out to score by seven and a quarter lengths.

That franked the improvement Tyson had shown in three earlier workouts, giving Green hope he would make the grade.

“He was basically broken in and gaited and turned out for a long time but he’s coming along nicely now.

“He’s a good pacer and I think he’ll end up quite a nice horse.”

A good-looking Art Major colt, Tyson is out of 13-race winner Helena Jet and is a brother to the speedy Nicholas Cage who won six races here, taking a scalp over Akuta and Copy That in the Founders Cup, before being sold to Australia, where he has won another three races at Menangle.

“The raw ability is there. He just needs nurturing a bit,” Green said.

“There are lots of firsts he has to overcome on Friday night - first time under lights, first time in a full field, first trip away from home - but I think he’ll handle it well as he seems sensible.”

Green said Tyson would need luck from three on the second row in a field of relatively inexperienced older rivals.

Lincoln Farms’ only other runner Commander Lincoln should get all favours from two on the gate in the sixth race.

Fourth in an amateur race on the course last start, Commander Lincoln found himself snookered back on the pegs but was doing his best work late when clear.

“It was another honest run - there were plenty in there who didn’t go as well - and he’ll get one eventually but you couldn’t predict when that will be.

“He tries hard but just lacks a bit of ability.”