Sir Tiger has been very disappointing since scoring a first-up win in Australia last September.
Al battling to discover why once reliable Sir Tiger’s turned into such a pussy cat
By Barry Lichter • 8 May 2020
Forget Sir Tiger went round at Albion Park last time - an experiment trying the horse in spreaders backfired and he didn’t try a hard.
Having his first start for three months, trainer Al Barnes had been expecting a competitive effort from the horse given he’d run on well in his only trial.
But fitting spreaders in an attempt to prevent the horse from hitting a splint below his knee proved the wrong move.
“Hayden said he hated them. They changed his gait completely and he didn’t try a yard. He was gone at the half mile and they only went 1:56.”
Sir Tiger was struggling to hold the one out-two back possie well before the home turn and finished 39 metres from the winner, beating only one home.
Barnes says Sir Tiger was plenty fit enough to be a factor last week but he’s not expecting the horse to feature tonight, when he starts from the inside of the second row.
But being buried away on the markers might be the best thing for the horse and allow him to run home, without being pressured.
“It’s all about trying to get his confidence back now so he wants to do it.
“He’s happy enough within himself and his nature’s quite good now, we just have to get him to turn the corner.”
Barnes says he’s consulted Sir Tiger’s former trainer, Pukekohe’s Ray Green about his unexpected drop in form.
“Ray says he was the most reliable horse they had at Lincoln Farms but maybe he just hasn’t adapted to our routine.
“Billy Lincoln on the other hand thrived here before we sold him to the States.”
Barnes says he doesn’t know whether the horse was gelded too late but he says with trial and error he still hopes to find the key to him.
Sir Tiger races at 10.03pm NZ time at Albion Park tonight.
More news in Harness
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Bang! Lincoln Wave’s tyre blows out, startling rival drivers but Alabar win would shock more
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
