Double Or Nothing and Sir Tiger look to be undone by their barrier draws on Tuesday
Barrier draws will make it tough for both Double Or Nothing and Sir Tiger to win at Albion Park on Tuesday, trainer Al Barnes thinking they’ll both need top drives or a lot of luck, or both, to even earn place money.
Barnes entered Double Or Nothing for a rating 65 to 75 race, figuring that in a higher grade with a preferential barrier draw he would land the pole.
And from there, given the way he raced last time, the horse could have “given them a shake.”
But instead of using the national rating system, the handicappers ranked the field on money won in the last four starts, which sees Double Or Nothing in gate four.
And with a lot of speed inside him, Barnes says he can’t see Double Or Nothing being able to cross to the pegs.
Double Or Nothing finishes second last time to Rocknroll Classic, a rival again on Tuesday.“And he doesn’t try as hard from behind. Brendan said he was bolting (in the trail) last time and thought he was going to win for fun but he rushed up to the girth of the leader and that’s as far as he wanted to go.
“I specifically put him in this race to get a good draw, rather than starting him in an up-to-65 race and drawing the outside of the second row.
“But if he burns out from four it could be for nothing. The two horse (Machin Out) wouldn’t hand up and he probably wouldn’t cross the one (Recipe For Dreaming) either.
“I don’t know where he’ll end up in the running now. It’s a hard race to assess with so much speed. It looks like he might have to come with one run again and that makes him a place chance at best.”
Barnes holds out even less hope for Sir Tiger from the outside of the gate in the following race.
The race is for rating 50 to 55 horses, much weaker than the opposition he faced last time in the Rising Stars Championship Final, when he came from four deep for fifth, finding the 1:52.1 mile rate beyond him.
Brendan Barnes … felt Sir Tiger give up when he lost a helmet to follow.But Sir Tiger is not a horse who can be used up early and still find the line, so driver Hayden Barnes will be virtually forced to go back from the arm.
Since deciding to drive Sir Tiger more conservatively, he has run some respectable races but he is still not the most genuine.
“Brendan said he was travelling really well on the helmet of the horse in front of him last time but when that horse pulled out, and he lost the helmet, he gave up a bit.
“It’s going to be tough from out there. He might be able to slide forward - Hayden will just have to assess what they’re doing early - but it’s more likely he’ll go back and take short cuts.
“Either way it’s going to take a great drive and a lot of luck to win.”
Double Or Nothing races at 5.33pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
Sir Tiger races at 6.12pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
More news in Harness
Ray reveals his theory on why rank outsider Sammy Lincoln can play a hand in the derby
$101 winner Lincoln Wave has improved and is worth following in Friday’s derby lead-up
OK Sammy, lightning bolts aside, Ray’s relying on you to do things right this time
Lincoln Dealer has the genes but not the barrier draw for Cambridge debut
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s come through his two runs well and we can be bolder with him from a front row draw.”
Race 2: Sugar Ray Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s in good shape and you can’t fault what he’s doing. I don’t think the (seven) draw should make a lot of difference - he’s been parked in his last two and still got money. You wouldn’t take a trifecta without putting him in.”
Race 2: Leo Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s racing really well and just needs a bit of luck from the second row. He’s trained on well and should go well again. ”
Race 4: Rivergirl Bella
6.27pm
“She only has a little sprint but, if she doesn’t have to do too much, she can get home well.”
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.27pm
“She’ll win a race or two, and will get one soon as she’s honest, but she’s still very green. And to be fair to her, she hasn’t had a decent enough run where you can really judge her yet.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.38pm
“Based on the draws, Sammy looks a better chance than Lincoln Wave. Not many win from out there, especially in a Group I race. But I suppose he had a similar draw at Cambridge (six) and got lucky (squeezing into the trail when Nymbal broke) so you never know what can happen. It won’t be easy for him but it would be nice to see him get a good trip as I think he’ll handle the 2700 metres as well as the others.”
Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.38pm
“If he can hold up, that would be marvellous as if anything can give Jumal a fright, it’s him. I know he’s still a maiden but he’s better than most of them ability-wise. He’s a classy big bugger who is very fast and if he ends up on Jumal’s back he’d be dangerous. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the fray as he has such a lot of ability.”
Rac e 10: Prince Lincoln
9.37pm
“If the real Prince Lincoln turned up he’d be in the money, but you never know with him.”

