Forget Billy went round last time - even Hayden couldn’t see where he was going
By Barry Lichter • 13 November 2019
A newly resurfaced Albion Park opens on Thursday with Billy Lincoln poised to pick up his winning thread.
Lincoln Farms’ improving three-year-old lines up in the second race, a wide front row draw not expected to stop him from securing the front.
Trainer Al Barnes says you can put the line through Billy Lincoln’s last start failure at Redcliffe on November 1 when in his first look at the tricky tight circuit he repeatedly locked on one rein.
Driver Hayden Barnes told a judicial inquiry into Billy Lincoln’s run that he also disliked running in the heavy rain, racing three wide from the 1200 metres and failing to run on.
“Hayden told me the rain was so heavy he couldn’t see two feet in front of him.”
Knowing even seasoned horses can struggle with the Redcliffe saucer, Al Barnes simply turned the page and waited for Albion Park to reopen.
And he says while fresh, Billy Lincoln won’t be underdone.
“He’s not the best trackworker, he’s a bit lazy. He’s pretty casual now he’s settled into his new home.
“But I’d say he’ll be about 95% and that should be enough in this field, which isn’t overly strong.
“He’ll push forward and find a good spot and will really appreciate being back at Albion Park.”
None of the horses drawn inside Billy Lincoln are in form, the best of his rivals on the second row, so Barnes expects he will find the front, from where he will be very had to run down.
“It’s getting a little harder for him every time but he should be right for a couple more easy wins. He hasn’t done anything wrong so far and is progressing and getting better with each run.”
Billy Lincoln’s four previous runs in Queensland resulted in three wins and a close second.
“Even when he was beaten he paced 28 and 28 home which was a PB for him.
“He’s exceeded everyone’s expectations since he came over from New Zealand. No one thought he’d do so well, so soon.”
In his last win at Albion Park on October 25, the Bettor’s Delight gelding clocked a mile rate of 1:55.5 for the 1660 metres, clearly faster than all of his rivals bar Oasis Dream. But the veteran’s lifetime mark of 1:53.5 was set two years and four months ago and he has won only one of his last 42 starts.
Billy Lincoln races at 4.20pm NZ time at Albion Park on Thursday afternoon.
More news in Harness
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Bang! Lincoln Wave’s tyre blows out, startling rival drivers but Alabar win would shock more
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
