Forget Billy went round last time - even Hayden couldn’t see where he was going

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.