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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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Jessie Lincoln
5.25pm
“This is her first run back and first at the Park but I’m expecting her to be very competitive. She ran a nice trial and she seems pretty good. I think she’ll be in the money. She’s a much stronger individual after her break - the big ones tend to take a little longer to make. I like her. She’ll be winning races for sure.”
Race 4: Johnny Lincoln
6.16pm
“We’re testing the water with him but he’s a proper racehorse and, drawn one, he won’t be far off them. I can’t see him beating those others but he’s a little tradesman who is a worthy candidate for the race.”
Race 4: Lincoln Wave
6.19pm
“You just have to forget about his last start because of the puncture and assess him on the previous two runs. We’re not expecting a huge effort from him - he’s on his way back up after a five-week break and there’s a fair bit of improvement in him. But I think he’s a very nice horse and I’m not afraid to front up to the good ones with him. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he got into it, even from five. We still don’t really know what we’ve got with him. But whatever he does on Friday night will tidy him up for the next one.”
