Al: Larry ‘awesome’ and Man Of Action only a pencil line away and a big improver
By Barry Lichter • 18 September 2020
Only the barest of noses spoiled a first-up double for Lincoln Farms’ newcomers to Queensland tonight when Larry Lincoln won and Man Of Action was pipped on the post at Albion Park.
Trainer Al Barnes’ pre-race analysis of what to expect from the pair played out to the letter as Larry Lincoln and Hayden Barnes brained their opposition then Man Of Action and brother Brendan had their race won until the very last stride.
Larry Lincoln strides home to a comfortable win.“Larry was awesome,” said Al Barnes after the little speedster spent much of the race three wide, then parked, yet still got home comfortably by 2.4 metres.
“It was a really good effort as he pulled up really big so there’s plenty of improvement in him.
“We didn’t know how much work he could do because in New Zealand he wasn’t racing tough but he did plenty tonight and won well.
“He had fixed plugs in too so there’s more to come there as well.”
Larry Lincoln had to run only closing sectionals of 57 and 28.9 to score, his overall time for the 1660 metres 1:58.6, a mile rate of 1:55.
While Larry Lincoln goes up four points in the ratings, with a five point three-year-old concession he will get back into the same grade again next week, says Barnes.
There’s only a pencil line between winner Jive, lower, and Man Of Action.So too will Man Of Action who showed terrific gate speed to forge to an early lead, running his first quarter in a rarely beaten 26.8 for that grade.
Man Of Action looked to have the field covered early in the run home but Brendan Barnes reported he waited for them a bit.
“And he didn’t see that one (Jive) coming because it sprinted so quickly.
“Brendan says they won’t be able to sit outside him and beat him because he’ll fight all day but it’s the ones who ping late that can catch him.
“But after that fast first quarter he still ran home in 56.4 and 28.5. And we know he’ll get better as he’s still a bit tubby and he has a few little problems in the back end that we need too fix.”
The race was cut out in a swift 1:57.7, a mile rate of 1:54.1.
Larry Lincoln paid $1.60 to win and Man Of Action $2 to place.
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Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Lincoln Maree
5.55pm
“Frank drove a nice race on her last time, doing a bit of work early before leading and trailing, but I think the result might have been different if she’d led all the way. She has no speed, she’s better in front and rolling, so this week we’ll tell Frank to go forward and to not hand up and hopefully she can go one better.”
Race 4: The Night Fox
6.56pm
“He got KOed last time at Auckland but Harry said he felt like he could have won with a decent draw so we’ll just put that race behind us. I wouldn’t say this field is any harder. We’ve got a bad draw again but it depends on how the race pans out. I think he can still win.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.58pm
“He’s doing a good job, and he ran home well last time at Cambridge, but Leo Lincoln is definitely the pick of ours.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.58pm
“He’ll strip a lot fitter and I think he’s a good winning chance. He’s been racing open class horses and this is a huge drop back for him.”
