Al handcuffed by stifling heat so don’t expect Sir Tiger to be at his best on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 12 December 2019
Recent temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s mean Sir Tiger will be only 90% fit when he resumes racing at Albion Park on Friday night.
Trainer Al Barnes has been forced to back off Sir Tiger’s workload in the very hot and muggy Queensland weather which he says could hang round for another couple of weeks.
“You’ve got to ride it out when it’s like this and just keep them ticking over - you can’t pump them in between races.”
For Sir Tiger that’s pretty significant as he hasn’t raced since running second on October 25 after which he was gelded.
Barnes intended racing Sir Tiger last Friday after he finished a head second in a trial on November 26 but decided, because very high temperatures were forecast on racenight, to only trial him again earlier that week.
Al Barnes … Sir Tiger has a good trailing draw.Pitted against free-for-allers, Sir Tiger finished sixth equal, driver Hayden Barnes not pressuring him after he sat parked in the running and the leaders whipped home in 54.8. The winner, Rock With Sam (15 wins) clocked a mile rate of 1:58 for the 1660 metres.
“He got tired in the last 100 metres, blew up, and had a good puff.
“Sitting parked is not his go either. He needs to be saved for one sprint and that’s how we’ll drive him on Friday.”
Barnes says Sir Tiger has a good trailing draw on the second row and describes his opposition as very even with no standouts.
“I’m hoping the gelding will turn him into a more genuine racehorse and if he raced to his full potential he’d be hard to beat.
“He’s still high in testosterone but I hope to see good improvement in the next few weeks when we get him into a consistent pattern of weekly racing.”
Barnes says Sir Tiger has been pacing better since he fitted him with a one legged spreader to keep him from hitting his splint.
Sir Tiger races at 11.38pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.03pm
“He’s had a decent spell and is looking in good nick and I think he should be competitive on Friday as he’s fairly forward. He’s not one who takes a lot to screw down so I’m picking he’ll come to it pretty quickly.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
6.03pm
“He’s training down well enough. The draw’s probably got him covered but he’ll go an honest race. He’s been outclassed a few times but he very rarely goes a bad race.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.54pm
“He had surgery to correct an epiglottal entrapment and will probably need the run. I wouldn’t say he’s on top of his game yet but he’s drawn well (one) and steps well so I’m picking he’ll get a nice trip. He’s up there in the grades now but hopefully he’s good enough to get a cheque.”
Race 9: Ultimate Cullect
8.54pm
“She locked on a rein at Cambridge and Andre couldn’t get her to go down into the passing lane. He said she was travelling well at the time. She’ll find this tough and needs a solid pace to be of any effect. A sit and sprint is no good for her.”
