Vasari pacing fluently in front for driver Hayden Barnes. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Al confident with Vasari who will enjoy big drop in class at Redcliffe on Wednesday night
By Barry Lichter • 23 July 2019
Vasari can turn his form line on its head in the opening race at Redcliffe on Wednesday night, tips trainer Al Barnes.
The form digits alongside Vasari’s name - 84940 - might appear bleak but he hasn’t been racing badly and will enjoy a huge drop in grade on Wednesday night in the 1780 metre sprint.
“This is a nice race for him and he’ll be short (in the betting),” says Barnes. “He’s been racing against pretty tough opposition at Albion Park and running on well. And his times have been good.
“And even though he ran last in his latest run when a hot favourite, he was unlucky.”
Driven quietly, four back on the outer by Hayden Barnes, Vasari was denied gaps when hooked wide in the run home but ran on nicely when switched back to the inner.
A week before that, he finished a strong fourth to stablemate Trojan Banner.
“From two on the second row I can see him following them through. We’ll let him slide forward and sit outside them or go to the front and he should beat them.
“I’m pretty confident he’ll handle them comfortably.”
Barnes says Vasari will have no trouble with the tight Redcliffe circuit. In two starts there he has run fourth and a big second, when he sat outside the leader.
Vasari races at 7.15pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Wednesday night.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Jessie Lincoln
5.44pm
“She normally runs on better but, after looking like she was going to round them up on the turn last week, she just flattened out. But she’ll be hovering around there somewhere.”
Race 5: Lincoln Maree
6.55pm
“She’s such a tough little filly who tries so hard. I wish I had one with speed with those qualities. It would be nice if they go hard, and she gets a suck along, then she might get a small piece of it. She never goes a bad race.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
6.55pm
“She’s been going all right but she keeps getting awkward draws and getting pushed back to the rear. Because of her initial success (as a two-year-old) she’s been badly off in the ratings but she’s slowly losing points.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
6.55pm
“He’s a serious winning chance. He’ll go forward from his outside gate and try to dominate again in front. He’s not just winning, he’s demolishing them.”
Race 9: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.45pm
“He got fired up at Cambridge with the long delay and, after he went forward to get a position, Fergie was just a passenger. When they pull that hard they don’t run on. He’s been racing well and can’t be ruled out if he gets a good trip.”
Race 9: Lincoln Wave
8.45pm
”If he gets a half decent trip, he’s the one to beat. Ignore the Cambridge run last week from a stand. We know what he can do from the mobile.”
