Trainer Al Barnes, with son Hayden, who is trimming down to resume his driving career. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Dad’s exercising and getting back in the cart - goal to fit his birthday suit into driving suit!
By Barry Lichter • 5 October 2020
It won’t just be a new look track and a newly invigorated Lincoln Farms team at Albion Park on Tuesday, even trainer Al Barnes is morphing into a lean, mean fighting machine.
Barnes, who celebrates his 48th birthday today, is very confident of winning with both Larry Lincoln and Man Of Action on Tuesday on the newly refurbished track.
And he will also don the silks again behind his own trotter Whataboyz in the opening race as he works towards his new goal of trimming down to resurrect his career in the cart.
With Barnes’ sons Hayden and Brendan set on working in the mines next year, he plans on taking over the stable’s driving duties.
“I only had three drives last year but I’m on my way down to my driving weight again and thought I’d start getting my eye in on Tuesday.”
Barnes says his health has improved out of sight since he threw away his pills and started exercising.
“I’ve got a lot of years of conditioning to lose but I’m trying to get down to the low 70s to see if I can fit back into my American suit.” Barnes wore the one-piece outfit when he trained and drove in the United States nearly 20 years ago.
While it might still be a stretch to get his birthday suit into his American suit, Barnes is very bullish he will take two winners to the track on Tuesday.
Neither Larry Lincoln nor Man Of Action has raced since September 18 after which upgrading work started at Albion Park, Barnes not keen to take them to the tight Redcliffe circuit.
“The track has been cut and resurveyed and the home turn is back up to 9 degrees. The turns were getting too flat - the home turn was down to 4 degrees - and that’s why it was so leader biased.
“It was still really heavy last Saturday night but once it settles in it will be good, we need some rain to help with that.”
Larry Lincoln scores an impressive debut win in Brisbane. PHOTO: Dan Costello.Barnes expects Larry Lincoln to repeat his impressive first-up win in the fourth race, where he starts from three on the gate over 2138 metres.
Larry Lincoln did plenty of work over 1660 metres in his Brisbane debut but still won comfortably in a 1:55 mile rate.
“He should have a bit of respect after that and the extra distance won’t be a problem. While the two horses inside him get out well, I can’t see them holding us out.
“And he’ll still be too good for them even if he has to sit parked outside them.
“He scored a tough win first-up and a lot of the local trainers were impressed by him.
“I can’t fault the way he’s working at home.
The photo finish goes against Man Of Action, inner, on his Albion Park debut. PHOTO: Dan Costello.“And I’m very confident with Man Of Action (race six) - he’ll win for fun.
“He’s really good and has improved out of sight from his first run.”
Barnes reported before that race that Man Of Action was well in need of the run yet he still went under only in the last stride in a 1:54.1 mile rate.
“From one on the second row he’s going to get a great trip behind the leader. Rocks Or Diamonds should hold the lead and the first half dozen steps will tell the story.”
Larry Lincoln races at 5.34pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
Man Of Action races at 6.47pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
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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.”
