Tiger, tiger, burning bright - Queensland bush fires a little too close for comfort

Queensland’s bush fires got a little too close for comfort for Lincoln Farms’ trainer Al Barnes this week.

Thirty fires are burning across the state but when one jumped the main highway near Marburg, residents of the small town were at one stage warned to evacuate.

The blaze, about 3km from Barnes’ Marburg stables, caused a major traffic jam when the main route between Ipswich and Toowoomba was closed as firefighters battled to contain it.

“It was only a small fire but if it had got out of control across the road we would have had 30 minutes to get out - which isn’t long when you’ve got to move 20 horses,” says Barnes.

“I had an evacuation plan ready but thankfully the helicopter bombers were there very quickly.

“The conditions are very dangerous at the moment with very hot, dry days and 40km to 50km winds. We’re in severe drought and it only takes a lightning strike on the grass to start a fire.”

The fire near Marburg caused a major traffic jam when the main highway was closed.Barnes is hoping forecasted showers arrive soon but already the temperatures have dropped from several days of 40 degrees to only 24, he says.

Barnes wonders if the heat contributed to Sir Tiger’s disappointing showing in last week’s Pot Of Gold Final, when he stopped to sixth after sitting parked for the last lap.

“He’s still getting used to the heat and maybe that, combined with a hard run, was a bit too much for him.

“He might also not be strong enough to sit in the chair and run 1:54, but I thought he should have won it - they were nearly all fillies against him.”

Barnes decided to try something different with Sir Tiger this week in preparation for Friday afternoon’s fifth race at Albion Park.

“Maybe we over-trained him last week? I’ve backed off him a little and kept him fresh and we’ll drive him like a sit-sprinter this time to give him some confidence. It’s a reasonably even field but I’m sure he’ll be competitive if we do that and be right in the money.”

Barnes says he’s still learning about Sir Tiger who starts from gate five, an awkward spot on the front row.

But he suspects from what he’s seen so far that Sir Tiger needs gelding.

“He might not have tried his best last week. He’s not colty or nasty but I want to make him a racehorse and there’s no advantage in keeping him a colt.

“Some colts have a killer attitude but others turn into pigs and you’ve only got to compare them on race night to geldings to notice the difference.”

Barnes says he’s likely to race Sir Tiger a few times before making the decision but he doesn’t want to risk leaving it too late.

If Sir Tiger was gelded soon, then rested, he could be prepared in time for the Victoria Derby in January.

“I don’t know if he’s up to it yet but you’ve got to give it a go.”

Sir Tiger races at 4.12pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday afternoon.