(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
Ray: Sammy Lincoln has ‘turned the corner’ and can go on with it on Friday night
Wide draws to overcome but Spirit Of God and Jessie Lincoln should both be competitive
Lincoln Farms turns Spiritual Bliss into a big winner - and now she’s off to the States
Emotional night at the Park as Sammy Lincoln steps up for John and his sister Maree
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Spirit Of God
5.44pm
“She’s definitely a chance as she has enough speed. The raw ability is there and I’m sure she’s as good as any of them ability wise. You can forget she went round at Auckland last week as she locked wheels 600 out.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.44pm
“There’s not a lot between her and Spirit Of God. The other filly is probably a bit fitter than Jessie but she worked well today and I think she’ll be very competitive. It depends on what sort of run she gets (from eight).”
Race 5: Lincoln Maree
7.39pm
“I can’t label her as a betting proposition from the draw, and in a tougher field, but you can never discount her as you know she’ll put herself in the race. You saw what she did last week - it doesn’t matter where she draws, she’ll launch.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Marylynes Boy
5.56pm
“Last week’s run was a non-event but he went well on debut. He’d have to be a shot, drawn the inside.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.57pm
“It’s a shame he hasn’t had more economical trips - he’s had some tough runs - and keeps going good races. He should go well again.”
Race 4: Lincoln Wave
6.57pm
“He burned himself out early in the derby. There was no race for him last week but he’s training well and should be right in it. His best races have been on the front end.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.56pm
“She’s got the draw and will lead out but she’s no match for Sammy Lincoln and looks better placed at Cambridge.”
Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.56pm
“I think he’s turned the corner and can go on with the job. He will have gained a lot in confidence from last week’s win. We haven’t really tried him out of the gate but he’s a good horse who is improving all the time.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.56pm
“He pulled too hard when caught back on the markers last week. He’s got the same inside second row draw so we’ve taken the blinds off or he’d over-race again. When he draws a (good) gate we’ll put them back on again. Obviously he’s best on the front end.”
