Consistent Double Or Nothing drawn to lead again though the company is stronger
By Barry Lichter • 28 February 2020
Trainer Al Barnes believes Double Or Nothing’s gate speed should help him get some of the money again at Albion Park on Saturday night even though he faces a stronger line-up.
Double Or Nothing steps up in company and distance in the fourth race but should easily find the lead from two on the gate.
And from there Barnes says he’ll take catching as usual.
“He’ll be in front, doing his best, and I don’t think the step-up from a mile to 2138 metres will make any difference to him.”
Double Or Nothing was driven hard out of the gate to lead from five last week and looked home on the turn, only to be swamped late and finish fourth, four metres behind winner Cherrys The Best.
Pull down blinds did not work on Double Or Nothing last week when he was swamped late into fourth.‘We tried pull down blinds on him and they backfired,” says Barnes.
“As soon as Hayden pulled them he regretted it.”
Double Or Nothing has tackled 2138 metres only once in Queensland, when a close second, and has yet to run further back than fourth in seven starts there.
It mirrors his New Zealand form when he finished further back then fourth only three times in 20 starts, earning $40,000.
“He’s very reliable, he just tends to wait for them a bit in the straight. But they’ve still got to catch him and he’s very fit now.
“We don’t do a lot with him at home in between races, just jog him and keep him as fresh and sharp as possible.”
One of the hardest for him to beat on Saturday night will be the former Mark Jones-trained Jamies Bad Boy who has racked up four wins and four seconds from eight starts since arriving in Brisbane.
Double Or Nothing races at 10pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
