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.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
