(Its) Super Easy (4) getting some practice in a learners’ heat at Pukekohe last September which he won.
Al: Dopey Its Super Easy a bit of a project but I’m hoping to get him steering better
By Barry Lichter • 2 March 2020
Trainer Al Barnes will use a hanging bit on Its Super Easy on Tuesday hoping it helps him steer better than when he failed badly on debut at Albion Park last week.
But while he meets an easier field in the second race, Barnes says the horse will have to lift a lot to have any chance of earning money.
Both Barnes and his son Hayden were surprised at how badly the Art Major three-year-old ran last week, his poor performance the subject of a judicial probe.
“He didn’t run up to his trial form at all and Hayden was very disappointed. He was hanging in and hitting a knee, he was on and off the bit, and just didn’t travel at all.”
Warned for being a couple of lengths off the gate at the start, Its Super Easy was last in the running and dropped off the pack by six lengths with 400 metres to run, finishing 60 metres from the winner.
“Hayden just left him alone. When they’re getting on a knee you can’t start bustling them.”
Barnes says while Its Super Easy didn’t steer the best when third and first in two previous trials, he was a lot better than in his race.
Al Barnes … Its Super Easy a six month project.“But green horses do that. You think you’ve got them one day and the next you don’t. He’s a big, dopey type. We knew he was a project when he came here and he could be a six month project.
“But we’re going to use a more severe bit on Tuesday and we’ll see how we go.”
While Tuesday’s easier race will be run much slower than last week, when winner Dataldo paced a mile rate of 1:54, Barnes doesn’t think the fast tempo brought Its Super Easy undone.
“A hot race didn’t seem to worry him when he ran third in Northview Hustler’s trial, and went 1:55, and he’s not a nervous type who gets upset on raceday, he’s very calm and relaxed.”
All the horses drawn inside him on Tuesday have only Redcliffe form but Barnes says they have the advantage of race experience.
“So long as he improves we’ll be happy - he couldn’t go much worse. We just want to see him do everything right and stay in touch with the field.”
Fellow “project horses” Joey Lincoln and Cover Boy Pretty will have educational trials tomorrow.
Joey Lincoln “got scared and galloped out of the gate last week” but paced great afterwards.
“He’s getting there but it will be Cover Boy Pretty’s first education. He’s been a bit keen at home.”
Queensland’s educational trials are similar to the learners’ workout heats here - horses go round behind the barrier for a couple of laps before running a mile in about 2:06.
Its Super Easy races at 4.52pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
More news in Harness
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!
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
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
“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.”
