Double Or Nothing gets a front row draw at Albion Park on Friday, Sir Tiger too
By Barry Lichter • 15 January 2020
The way Double Or Nothing chewed up his rivals from a bad draw in his Queensland debut at Albion Park augurs well for his second start on Friday from the front row.
And expect a dividend-filling run from Sir Tiger too, drawn the pole in the final race, even though he failed to beat one home last week.
Double Or Nothing really impressed driver Hayden Barnes last Thursday when he started from the outside of the second row, looped the field to lead at the bell, and won with the handbrake on in 1:55.4.
While up in grade this week, in a rating 60 to 70 race, trainer Al Barnes says it’s not an overly strong race and Double Or Nothing is sure to acquit himself well again.
“We’re keeping him fresh and he’s doing well. He doesn’t need a lot of work - he showed that by winning last week, coming off a bit of a break.
“He’ll have improved with the run and from five on the front row he’ll go forward and be hard to beat.”
Barnes says Sir Tiger has also had a nice quiet week and will go better than many expect in his heat of the Rising Stars.
The horse endured a horror trip last week through no fault of his own, first three wide with cover, then three wide solo the last lap, just off the leaders, before dropping out.
“I thought it was a good effort to finish only 20 metres from the winner when it went 1:54.7.
“I’m expecting him to go well this week and he should definitely run in three from the ace draw.
“He’s getting out of the gate well and should be quick enough to hold his position without using him too much.”
Barnes can see Sir Tiger capitalising on a handy markers trip and qualifying for the A$16,000 Rising Stars Final the following week.
Double Or Nothing races at 7.25pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
Sir Tiger races at 8pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
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Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
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.”
