Sir Tiger finally lands an alley at Cambridge on Thursday night.
At long last, Sir Tiger gets a good draw on Thursday - and just watch Zac use it
By Barry Lichter • 16 April 2019
Lincoln Farms’ top two Young Guns might be missing but Sir Tiger’s long overdue luck with the barrier draw could still see it capture the north’s first Sires’ Stakes heat at Cambridge on Thursday night.
Neither of trainer Ray Green’s crack two-year-olds Line Up or Perfect Stride will be seen in action for a while after recent setbacks.
Line Up … soreness prompted two months rest.Line Up was having growing pains and is enjoying two months in the paddock while Perfect Stride was given a month off to completely get over a virus and has been back in work for only a week and a half.
But in Mr Reliable Sir Tiger, Green has a worthy backup, especially now he has drawn the pole for the 1700 metre dash.
The Sir Lincoln colt’s record of three placings from seven starts would have read a lot better had he not been plagued by impossibly wide draws and forced to do too much work.
In seven starts Sir Tiger has drawn 7, 6, 7, 2, 8, 9 and 8. And he made the most of his only good draw when best of the rest behind his super impressive stablemate Line Up.
Typical of his bad luck, he started from the outside of the gate in the Young Guns Final, was hampered early, forced to race wide before finding the death seat 1100 metres out, then all but wiped out by an errant running Virgil in the run home.
Inside second row draws are usually the kiss of death but for Sir Tiger it was almost a godsend two starts back. Following out stablemate Hilary Barry then racing three deep, he mounted the fastest last quarter of 27.7 up the passing lane to run third to pacemaker Bad To The Bone and Eagle Watch.
Against older maiden opposition last week, it was back to normal transmission as Sir Tiger was again stuck on the outside of the gate.
And this time it all went bad turning into the home straight after 400 metres when driver Zachary Butcher tried to restrain him from three wide into the running line.
Pacing too keenly and resenting the brakes being applied, Sir Tiger went roughly and broke for about nine strides before settling, not something he’d done before.
Sir Tiger … over-raced in blinkers last week.“We had blinkers on him for the first time and he just over-raced,’’ says Green. “They’re coming off this week.
“Zac might have been better to let him stride along last week instead of being cute. He’s not really a sit and sprint horse.’’
More a rolling type, lacking a yard of high speed, Green sees the pole draw as a huge benefit to Sir Tiger on Thursday.
Butcher was behind Bad To The Bone at Auckland two starts back but sticks with Sir Tiger this time and will unquestionably be out to hold the lead from gate release.
And the way the horse finished last week for fifth, after being forced four wide round the home bend and running only 4.4 lengths from winner Eyespywithmylittleye, augurs well for Thursday night when he is back to his own age group.
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Our runners this week
Saturday night at Albion Park
Captain Nemo.
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.”
