Billy Lincoln free-wheeling in front for Hayden Barnes at Albion Park in Brisbane. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
They’ve got their eyes on our Billy Boy already and a hat-trick looms at Albion Park today
By Barry Lichter • 14 October 2019
Billy Lincoln is already on the radar of an overseas buyer after two easy wins since arriving in Queensland and the rapidly improving three-year-old looks well placed to make it a hat-trick at Albion Park this afternoon.
New York owner Keith Quinn is scouting for more horses from trainer Al Barnes after his first buy Vasari scored a dominant fresh-up win at Saratoga last week.
And if rookie Billy Lincoln continues to impress, he could also be headed Stateside.
Billy is expected to start a red hot favourite from gate two in the third race today, at 4.47pm NZ time, after pointless wins in his opening bouts.
First-up, over today’s distance of 2138 metres, he scored by almost 10 metres in a 1:58.7 mile rate, and last time he led almost throughout over 1660 metres to clock a 1:54.3 mile rate, never tested to get home by nearly eight metres.
“He should find the front again and give them something to chase,” says Barnes.
“He’s got enough speed to hold them and, from what he’s shown so far, he’ll only have to run up the straight in 28 to be very hard to beat.”
Barnes says the opposition is slightly stronger than what he faced in his last start annihilation. “He’ll have to step up a bit - the horse of Grant Dixon’s Saint Kilda Beach goes all right.
“But we’re getting him into a nice routine, he’s happy and eating well, and he’ll run very well.”
Billy Lincoln, still learning what racing is all about, surprised even Barnes with the turn of foot he showed last time, looping the field effortlessly a round from home.
“Imagine what he might do in six months when he’s learned what life’s about?” Barnes said.
Billy Lincoln races at 4.47pm NZ time at Albion Park today.
More news in Harness
OK Sammy, lightning bolts aside, Ray’s relying on you to do things right this time
Lincoln Dealer has the genes but not the barrier draw for Cambridge debut
HRNZ boss Brad Steele resigns after less than two years; chairman praises his work
$101 monster upset! - Lincoln Wave makes the most of lucky break and fills plenty of pockets
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
