Taming the Tiger - Al using kid gloves to make problem pacer brave
By Barry Lichter • 2 January 2020
Queensland trainer Al Barnes is looking for an improved run from Sir Tiger at Albion Park tomorrow, back in distance, down in class and against his own age group.
But while he says Sir Tiger is going well enough to figure in the finish, he says he’ll still need luck on his side from a bad draw.
That’s because Barnes is determined to keep working on Sir Tiger’s confidence by driving him quietly and have him finish strongly, rather than being driven hard and dropping out.
“Even though he showed a bit more gate speed last time, we’ll still be going back from six. For now, that’s the best way to drive him as I want him feeling happy and confident.
“If things go his way and he can loom up behind them like he did two starts back he’ll be right in it.”
Sir Tiger battles into fourth last start.While Sir Tiger was dead stiff when eighth on December 20, unable to find a gap in the run home, he looked weak in his next start when only fourth after securing a perfect trail behind the leader.
Barnes partly blames himself for that failure, backing the horse up only four days later over 2138 metres.
“He doesn’t back up brilliantly but he’s fresh this time and he should run out the 1660 metres better.
“But it’s an even bunch and he’ll have to be at least 90% to give them a shake. They’ll probably go slow which will make it hard for him.”
Barnes continues to be pleased with Super Easy who showed fantastic manners in an educational trial last week and he plans to give the horse another spin round Albion Park on Tuesday with Joey Lincoln.
Newest recruit Double Or Nothing will have an official trial on Friday, Barnes keen to find out if he’ll go well fresh to give him a guide on his upcoming programme.
Stable star Northview Hustler is making good headway in his new campaign, bothered only by a minor back niggle.
Sir Tiger races at 2.54pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.
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Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
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Ray’s comments
Wednesday at Cambridge
Race 3: Spiritual Bliss
1.10pm
“You can’t fault what she’s done up here and she’s trained on really well since Manawatu. She seems to have a good motor and can carry her speed a long way. It’s a bit of a step-up on Wednesday, and she’s drawn out a bit, but she should be right in the fray.”
Race 4: Lincoln Lover
1.45pm
“It’s a huge drop in class for him on what he’s been racing. The Purdon horse Crippa Max looks the one to beat on his trial but I’m picking we’ll finish in the first three at worst. He’s very honest and does nothing wrong.”
Race 6: Lincoln Downs
2.55pm
“She got skittled early last time when one galloped in front of her, and that didn’t help. It would be nice to see her get a good trip, with no incidents, and see what she can do. She’s no superstar but she tries hard.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
4.31pm
“It’s his first race for more than four months and I’m picking he’ll need the run. It was a toss-up whether we went to the trials, but he’d probably have had no opposition, so it made sense to drop him in here. He’s training well and seems in good shape but whatever he does, he’ll improve on.”
