Vasari, nearest camera, gets the decision by a nose over Stompem, inner, at Albion Park tonight.
Al shows he has ice in his veins as he gets Vasari up for a thrilling last stride win
By Barry Lichter • 17 August 2019
Little more than a pencil line robbed trainer Al Barnes of one of his most memorable half hours at Albion Park in Brisbane tonight.
First Northview Hustler ran out of his skin fresh-up to go down in a very close photo finish to Leos Best, with Barnes’ son Brendan behind the horse for the first time.
Barnes was praised by commentator Chris Barsby for his ice cold drive, which saw Vasari come with a withering late burst in the stretch to pip favourite Stompem, The Announcer and Offthetopofmyhead.
Al Barnes … not a bad driving display for an “old fat fella”But he was quick to switch the kudos to the horse himself.
“It’s not hard to steer the good ones,” he said. “Hayden told me how to drive him - it was exactly the same scenario as last week.
“I could have run down the back but I didn’t want to be five wide and thought I’d save him for the last couple of hundred metres.
“I was four wide from the 400 anyway and in the straight I thought I was going to come up short, but he really charged the last hundred metres.”
Barnes described the five-year-old as being “such a good old trier who is tough as nails” but passed on credit for his newfound form to former Pukekohe trainer Ray Green.
“His confidence is up and it’s because I followed Ray’s advice to train him like a thoroughbred. He said I just had to keep him on the lead so he was happy and fresh.”
Vasari has obviously responded as he now boasts a form line of 1211, with earnings in those last four starts of A$17,435.
Leos Best noses out Northview Hustler.Barnes was rapt with the fresh-up run of Lincoln Farms’ flag bearer Northview Hustler who was having his first run since the Blacks A Fake Championship on July 20 and was well in need of the hitout.
A catch drive for his younger son Brendan, with Hayden suspended, the Hustler unleashed his now trademark high speed burst turning for home and looked to have the measure of Leos Best, only to paddle the last few metres and lose out in a nose photo finish.
“But we knew that would happen,” said Barnes. “We would have been rapt if he’d run top four as we knew he was big, but good horses just find.”
The fact Hustler pulled up with a heart rate of 94 confirmed he was still a little way off full fitness.
“I thought his run was super - the last two sectionals were 27.9 and 27.7 - and he’ll take a lot of improvement out of it.
“Brendan was a little disappointed at not winning - he thought he’d got there - but he’ll go in the same grade next week and be a genuine $1.90 chance this time.”
Winner Leos Best was created with a time of 2:33.5 for the 2138 metres, a mile rate of 1:55.6.
There’s a narrow margin for Leos Best in the official photo finish.
More news in Harness
Rivergirl Bella finally delivers - and Phil kicks himself for not being there or having a punt
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
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
Update: Scratched
“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.”
