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: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
