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Dr Green goes to work on mentally fragile Tyson hoping to pen better script for Friday

Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green doesn’t claim to be a psychologist but he’s resorted to some exposure therapy on Tyson this week.

And Green is hoping it will make all the difference when he lines up the fast but fearful two-year-old in the final race at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

Tyson, who has taken heavy support in all three of his races this month, blew it again at Cambridge last Friday when he showed a strong aversion to the mobile gate.

“He wouldn’t go up to the gate, for some reason he’s terrified of it. Zac (Butcher) had a job getting him within 50 metres of it.”

Despite being several lengths out of position on dispatch after galloping in the score-up, Butcher pressed foward, only to gallop again on the turn out of the straight.

“When the horse saw the mobile on the outside of the track he nearly knocked himself over in fright.”

In order to solve what Green described as a “mental problem”, he exposed Tyson to the mobile gate in training at Pukekohe yesterday, hoping to desensitive him.

“We just schooled him behind the gate for a round so he could go up to it and have a look and we’ll probably do it again on Thursday.

“It’s just a colty thing but ideally we’d like to fix it and help him get over it before Friday.

“He should be one of the favourites in that last race. The raw ability is there and he’ll definitely win races as he has a bit of speed.

“How far he will take us we have yet to find out but I thought he did really well last time given the run he had.”

After galloping out to the rear of the field, Butcher wasted no time in “smoking” round to the leaders, only to find the front wasn’t there for him.

Despite sitting parked for the last lap just when Butcher thought Tyson was going to give up, he picked up again.

“Zac said in the end he was looking for a gap up the home straight, which never came, and he ended up a close fifth.”

Tyson has only five rivals to beat on Friday night, with the early scratching of Carrera Hombre and, from three on the gate, Dr Green is hoping to see some dramatic improvement from his patient.

Our runners this week

Friday night at Auckland

What’s Up The Hill.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Tuesday twilight at Manawatu

Race 3: Onyx Shard
5.09pm

“She’s working really well and, from the good draw, hopefully she can run a drum. The field’s not that much harder than the one she beat last time at Manawatu (when parked for the last lap).”

Race 3: Kevin Kline
5.09pm

“We’re very happy with him - he’s come back a better horse. He went well at Auckland last start and is working well. We’ll be looking to go forward from the gate and hopefully get a gun run through behind Onyx Shard. On ability, he’s the better chance of the two.”

Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.39pm

“He stepped like a bullet in his first go from a stand here in March. I thought he’d do the same on the second day but he galloped. We’ve got an overcheck on and hopple shorteners on Tuesday so he should make a good beginning. If he can step and lead, then maybe take a trail, he should be hard to beat. He likes it down there where the track is quite soft.”

Race Images - Harness