(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
Forget the form line, Nemo is in Saturday’s race at Albion Park ‘right up to his ears’
Fine Cambridge double but Ray’s packing Lincoln Cove off to Matamata for scintigraphy
34 more meetings in the north next season as Auckland reclaims Friday nights
No way to sugar coat it - it’s tricky to predict what Sugar Ray will do on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
