Al confident with Larry Lincoln but the draw takes Hustler out of play on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 5 February 2021
With a wide barrier draw taking Northview Hustler out of play at Albion Park on Saturday night, Lincoln Farms will be looking to Larry Lincoln to fly the flag - and trainer Al Barnes is very confident he’ll do it admirably.
Larry Lincoln doesn’t have the best form line in the third race but it doesn’t reflect the enormity of his last start run.
Sent forward soon after the start from a wide draw, driver Hayden Barnes was left stranded three wide when the parked horse kicked up and he had no option but to go all the way back to last.
To see the horse then sprint fast up the inside in the home straight, only to run into a brick wall, came as quite a surprise to his trainer.
Larry Lincoln (red hood) is hard on the leaders’ backs with nowhere to go .“Hayden said he was bolting and he would have won for fun if he’d got out. If he runs up to that form I’m very confident he can win on Saturday.”
Barnes said his son quite rightly decided not to put his foot down when denied the chair.
“Given the work he did early anyway it was great to see him finish like that.”
Larry Lincoln was doing handstands in behind the placegetters, finishing fifth but only 4.4 metres from winner Ice Pick Angie. His closing sectionals of 54.7 and 27.47 were the fastest in the race.
“Nothing in that field on Saturday will run those times and even though his form has slipped a little he should get a lot of respect back now. He can bounce straight back and show them what he can do on Saturday night.
“Two the second row is a good draw for him to sit handy and it’s a good stake.”
The A$14,000 purse - about A$7800 to the winner - is only $1000 less than the main pace, but Barnes isn’t thinking he can get any more than the dregs with Northview Hustler drawn six in the opener.
“The field is drawn on ratings and unfortunately six puts us out of the race.
“From an inside draw he can hold his own - he can leave the gate on the bit - but if he’s out wide and you’ve got to chase him to cross and put one on his bum he just doesn’t finish his races off.
“He’ll go back and we’ll save him for one sprint so he runs on.”
Barnes says Hustler can’t threaten the two favourites Turn It Up and Colt Thirty One who dominate the betting and will probably end up leading and breezing.
Northview Hustler races at 8.11pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Larry Lincoln races at 9.15pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Ray’s comments
Tuesday at Addington
Race 9: Debbie Lincoln
4.03pm
“She’s drawn out but I think she’s got the gate speed to be put into the race. You’ve got to be handy to beat the good ones and we don’t want to be stuck behind some of the others. The one drawn two inside us, Arafura, looks the one to beat but Debbie is as good as anything in the race in my opinion. It’s not going to be easy but I’m hopeful. She’s done well down here and is in good shape.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 5: Im Not The Maid
6.17pm
“The draw helps and while she’s very honest she still needs to improve. Gary Hall said she was a bit stop-start last time but he cut corners and wasn’t too far away at the finish. He reckoned his toe rope broke at the top of the straight.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
7.49pm
“She showed no speed when resuming and it’s hard to see her playing a part in this.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
7.49pm
“She went the best of them last time, was hampered turning or home, and could improve.”
Race 8: Jessie Lincoln
7.49pm
“She’s a big filly but so far, so good. There are a few negatives, like the second row draw and it being her first time under lights, but I think she could go quite well. It’s not a wonderful lot against her and she’s training well.”
Race 8: Lincoln’s Spice
7.49pm
“She over-raced early first-up and burned herself out. She’s a delicate little thing but we’ll put some plugs in her this week. Last time in I thought she could be the best of them. Whether the others have caught her up or she’s gone backwards I don’t know.”
