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 Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
4.52pm
“She did a good job last week at Auckland. Throwing her in the deep end seems to have toughened her up a bit. She’s getting stronger all the time. This is a big drop in class and she’s a chance from a better gate (three).”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.20pm
“If the real Prince turned up he’d absolutely be hard to beat. If he leads, as he should do from two, he’s a different horse.”
Race 3: Major Copy
5.54pm
“Maurice just nursed him around on debut. He was stepping over tyre marks on the track so he didn’t want to launch him into the open too soon. We’ll put a shadow roll on him this time to stop that and I can see him going a lot better from the inside draw.”
Race 3: Jessie Lincoln
5.54pm
“I’m not saying she can’t win but it will be hard for Fergie to find a good trip from the draw. She’ll need a lot of luck but she can be right in it if things go her way as she’s training well.”
Race 5: Lincoln Dealer
6.49pm
“He’s been a slow developing horse and you can’t drive him pretty, he won’t let you, as he’s a bit of a hot head. Maurice will launch him and see where he ends up.”
Race 5: Spirit Of God
6.49pm
“She got tired late last time and started hanging a bit (hitting a marker) but I thought she went OK. She did a bit early (from a wide draw) and was still there at the finish so she’s going to win a race. You never know with second line draws but it’s usually a decent impairment.”
Race 7: Lincoln Maree
7.40pm
“She never runs a bad race. She has a big motor for a little filly and should be right in the fray.”
Race 7: Angelic Copy
7.40pm
“Maurice said she foundered a bit when they took off, and got three or four lengths behind, but she didn’t lose any more ground after that and held her place. So the run wasn’t as bad as it looked and she’ll be improved.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.14pm
“It was a non-event last time (from a stand) and he’s a good horse who will be vying for the lead from five and deserves to be favourite.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.14pm
“Peter (Ferguson) said he didn’t feel as sharp last week as in the past so I’ve given him a little freshen-up with a light week and he should go better.”
