Brian Christopher after his sole win at Manawatu last December. PHOTO: Royden Williams.
Brian Christopher to give a bold sight in front - but Al warns not to take short odds
By Barry Lichter • 22 June 2021
Trainer Al Barnes is hoping Brian Christopher shows more on race night than he does at home - because otherwise punters could be getting very bad value when the horse makes his Queensland debut at Redcliffe on Wednesday night.
The three-year-old lines up in race seven and being a Kiwi, first-up in Brisbane, Barnes says he’s sure to touch a short price.
Brian Christopher arrives in Brisbane the winner of one of his eight races - against poor opposition at Manawatu - but none of his rivals have been any more successful.
That, however, does little to inspire Barnes.
“I can’t go any weaker than this and I hope he leads and wins but I’m not confident. He just doesn’t have any speed.
“He’s not interested in showing anything at home, I just hope he’s different on race night. Some of them can improve in a race but he’ll be no value.”
Zachary Butcher … Brian Christopher “one-paced.”In his win at Palmerston North last December, driver Zachary Butcher reported Brian Christopher was very one-paced and Barnes says that’s why he hopes he can make the lead from four on Wednesday night and roll along.
“He’s not blistering out of the gate but he does have gate speed. He should give a bold sight in front but Hayden reckons he’s a better chaser. Once that horse got past him in his trial he seemed to try a bit harder.”
Trialled over 1660 metres at Albion Park on May 28, Brian Christopher worked his way to the front and battled away well for a close third when headed by eventual winner Couldntmisafalcon. The heat was won in a moderate mile rate of 1:58 with closing sectionals of 58.3 and 28.5.
“He trailed as well as he can go.”
Brian Christopher, who last raced on January 28 at Cambridge, clocked a mile rate of 2:01.7 in winning his 2000 metre race at Palmerston North and will need to go a lot faster on Wednesday.
Man Of Action won’t need to improve to be right in the hunt in the third race - he just needs a little more luck.
Drawn three on the second row for the third time in a row, Man Of Action tackles 2040 metres on Wednesday, with Barnes predicting he’ll still be competitive.
“It’s a bad draw but I’m happy with him, he’s racing really well and seems to be trying again.”
Last start on June 11, in a stronger field at Albion Park, Man Of Action made ground from four deep on the markers in a mile rate of 1:54.9 to be 11.4 metres fifth behind Nesters Hill.
“A win isn’t far away, he only needs a bit of luck.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
