Al’s winning recipe: We’ll just leave Larry alone and let him do his own thing
By Barry Lichter • 29 October 2020
With another good draw, Larry Lincoln can go back to back at Albion Park on Friday night.
“It looks a very winnable race again,” says trainer Al Barnes. “The field’s no harder than the one he beat last week.”
Larry Lincoln was confidently tipped by Barnes as a winner last Friday after brilliant track work during the week and he duly obliged, capitalising on a trailing trip with a telling late sprint.
Part of the reason for the form turnaround was also that Barnes instructed his son Hayden not to burn the horse early, but to let him find his feet.
Barnes also learned last week that Larry doesn’t like to be stressed late with the whip or even have his hood pulled. When that happened in the run home he jammed his tail and went from bolting to not wanting to run.
So this week Larry will be left to do his own thing - not only at the start but also at the finish.
With two Redcliffe level horses drawn inside him, you’d think it would be a given that Larry will cross them from three but Barnes says whether that happens will depend on how fast they leave the gate.
“He can go forward and try to lead but we don’t want to burn him early, we’ll just let him slide forward. He can get a little keen.”
Regardless of where he settles, Barnes says the Sweet Lou three-year-old, with his natural speed, will be hard to beat again over only 1660 metres.
Larry Lincoln races at 8.52pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
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Les Harding
Monday at Globe Derby
Race 6: Beaudiene Rocknroll
6.34pm NZ time
This race will tell us how he measures up against the local horses. We decided to go for this lower graded race, despite having lower prize money, instead of going to the trials one more time. He won the second of two trials on April 21, beating race rival Hezrockinroyalty by four metres. Run over 2230 metres he clocked 57.7 for his last half and 1:59.7 for his last mile. From the pole he’ll start short and be hard to beat.
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 7: Lincoln Lou
8.25pm
“He’s a beautiful little horse who doesn’t do anything wrong. He got held up at a crucial time last week and got home well (for sixth). He gets out pretty well so should get a good trip from two. He’ll go his usual honest race. He’s improving all the time, he’s a gutsy little guy, but whether he can measure up to the favourites remains to be seen.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.25pm
“He’s a work in progress and we’re still dabbling with his gear. He’s actually a naturally good-gaited horse, like all the American Ideals, but he’s going through a stage of not really knowing why he’s out there. You just don’t know when he’ll click but three is an ideal draw for him and he should be handy if he does things right.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
9.20pm
“He’s an under-rated horse, as good as those others who are higher rated. He’s proving to be a tidy horse and, while he’s not viewed as a serious player by some, I think he is. He was closing off really well last week behind Hugotastic.”
