Al adopts new silks to help us follow Brisbane team - and guess what, they’re green!
By Barry Lichter • 22 May 2019
Lincoln Farms’ owners will soon find it easier to follow their horses in Queensland with trainer Al Barnes adopting a new set of colours for the Kiwi horses.
When Lincoln’s Girl and Vasari race at Albion Park on Friday night they will be sporting Barnes’ black colours with a white, red and yellow sash.
But Barnes figures few of the horses’ owners are familiar with his garb so in future that pair, plus hi-flyers Northview Hustler and Trojan Banner, will carry Lincoln Farms’ familiar bottle green.
But Barnes has a new twist on the theme, adding the words Lincoln Farms in white to the colours which he hopes will feature prominently at the upcoming winter carnival.
Barnes says he didn’t want to offend Lincoln Farms’ No. 1 trainer Ray Green by simply copying his colours which have cream cuffs and a cream collar.
“But I thought the new look will help Lincoln Farms’ owners find their horses during a race and it will help advertise Lincoln Farms.’’
Barnes has made a great start training Lincoln Farms’ horses in Queensland with Trojan Banner unbeaten in five starts, Northview Hustler a winner in his only start, and Lincoln’s Girl in the winners’ circle twice.
Barnes is hoping the new silks arrive next week and in the meantime believes Lincoln’s Girl and Vasari are both each way chances on Friday.
Lincoln’s Girl … relying on luck from the second row.“Lincoln’s Girl went super last time - I didn’t know how brave she’d be when I saw her caught in the chair (death seat), but Hayden was very happy with how she went.’’
Unable to cross the pole marker at the start from three, Lincoln’s Girl sat parked throughout the 1660 metres, before taking the lead turning for home.
It was only in the final few metres that the filly was swamped, finishing a nose and 1.3 metres from the winner in a 1:55.1 mile rate.
“It was only the horses that had the drop on us that beat us,’’ says Barnes.
“And we now know if need be she has the stamina to slide round to the chair.’’
Lincoln’s Girl doesn’t have the luxury of being able to gun for the lead on Friday night, and drawn two on the second row will need an ounce of luck to feature.
Barnes believes she’s a top two chance with the breaks but says she only has to finish in the first half of the field to progress to the final of the $10,000 Pot Of Gold event.
“It’s not a bad field but she’s as good as anything else in there.’’
A round from home and Vasari is in trouble, snookered three deep on the markers.Vasari again gets his chance to lead from three on the front in the final race at 7.22pm NZ time.
Barnes hoped Vasari would lead last week in a heat of the Young Drivers’ Championship but thought his driver Taleah McMullen was a little timid at the start.
“She didn’t really chase him out and got caught three deep.’’
That virtually took the horse out of play because Vasari is a one-pacer who can’t accelerate on a dime.
By the time Vasari got out it was too late yet he still closed to within 3 metres and a head of winner Corey William in a sizzling 1:52.4 mile rate.
His closing 800 metres of 55.45 was the second fastest in the race and easily faster than the first two home.
With his son Hayden back in the cart on Friday night, Barnes says Vasari should get out a lot better and have his chance to cross the pole marker Magoogan who can begin smartly.
“The horse is really well and he’ll win one soon. It’s a good line-up but he should run top three.’’
Lincoln’s Girl runs at 2.42pm NZ time on Friday.
Vasari runs at 7.22pm NZ time on Friday.
More news in Harness
Emotional night at the Park as Sammy Lincoln steps up for John and his sister Maree
Rivergirl Bella finally delivers - and Phil kicks himself for not being there or having a punt
This is it, Sammy, the draw’s a bit of a pain but you can eat these non-winners for breakfast
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
Update: Scratched
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
