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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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Mark Dux’s comments
Wednesday night at Redcliffe
Race 1: Captain Nemo
7.17pm NZ time
“It’s a reasonable field, they’re not push-overs, but they’re all beatable. It will all come down to who gets the right trip. If we have something go our way we could get some of it as there’s not a lot between them and I don’t think he’s far off now. We’ve got a bad draw again and there’s a bit of speed inside us so I’ll tell Angus to just play it by ear.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln La Moose
7.32pm
“He’s a pretty good horse. He was still below his best last time at Cambridge - he needed the race - but went very well for second behind King’s Watch. With his ace draw, he should be right up there for Zac (Butcher). He always looked a bit delicate but he’s got tougher.”
Race 4: Obadiah Dragon
7.32pm
“He’ll go a good race but our others look better here. His last run was below par for him so we took a blood off him and he had a bit of a virus going on. He was at the tail end of it but it was enough to stop him.”
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.32pm
“Even if he’s half a run short, I don’t think it will matter, he’ll still be too good for this lot. He only had a mild virus which came right with treatment and he’s trained on well since. He feels pretty good and if I was betting man, I’d bet him for sure based on his last run, which was massive.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.32pm
“He’s in a ‘coming of age’ phase. He rushed up beside them last start and wanted to lay all over them and give them a hug. But that’s normal coltish behaviour. He does that in training as well, rushes up and switches off. He has a lot of ability but also a few little behaviour traits that we need to get on top of.”
Race 6: My Copy
8.24pm
“It won’t be easy from four on the second row but he’s very honest and, if opportunity knocks, he’ll be right there. If he gets a trip, he’s always ready to pounce.”
Race 9: Tyson
9.39pm
“He should be one of the favourites. The raw ability is there and he’ll definitely win races as he has a bit of speed. How far he will take us we have yet to find out but I thought he did really well last time given the run he had.”
