Part owner Bob Best with his best mate ‘Louie’, or Double Or Nothing as punters know him.
Double Or Nothing has Hayden buzzing after lightning last-to-first win at Albion Park
By Barry Lichter • 9 January 2020
“He’s my new Trojan Banner.”
That was driver Hayden Barnes’ description of Double Or Nothing before the horse debuted in Queensland today, in response to one of the many racegoers who admired his shiny coat and awesome looks.
And afterwards, Barnes was not backing off on the statement, Lincoln Farms’ new rep having torn his rivals apart, with a lightning last-to-first move with a lap to run.
“I really like this horse, he did it jogging today. When the other horse (Amaya Becomes) dropped off, he half spat the bit out but he kicked again when he heard another one coming.”
Double Or Nothing is jogging, 3.3 metres in front of Dataldo, Amaya Becomes and Somehowsomeway.At the line the Sweet Lou gelding, whose stable name is Louie, held a 3.3 metre margin which flattered his rivals, clocking a swift mile rate of 1:55.4 for the 1660 metres, with closing sectionals of 56.4 and 27.9.
Barnes says he was pleasantly surprised when he pulled out with a little over a lap to run, hoping to get up and sit outside the leader.
“He took off and then I thought I might even be able to get to the front.”
So quickly did Double Or Nothing arrive, the leader had no chance of holding him, driver Keith Durston’s urgings on Dataldo in vain.
“The way he felt today he should rack up a fair few wins very quickly. He’s rated in the 60s now so it will step up but there’s still a lot of improvement in him.
“His heart rate was 93 today and, while not too high, he’ll get a lot fitter than that.”
Third best
Barnes says he already rates Double Or Nothing the third best horse Lincoln Farms has sent to Marburg to be trained by his dad Al, behind Northview Hustler and Trojan Banner who won his first seven races straight in Queensland.
“What I like is that he does everything so easily. You know when you drive a good horse.”
Job well done … Hayden Barnes pulls up on Double Or Nothing after his decisive drive today.Barnes’ display on Double Or Nothing was right up to the mark, getting round the field in the slowest quarter of 31.1.
And after reeling off the next two fractions in 28.5 and 27.9, he says it made it very hard for the others.
‘We juniors drive pretty aggressively - it’s just how we are. If you drive them too pretty you can’t win races here because they get home too fast.”
Today’s win took Double Or Nothing’s record to three wins and 11 placings from 21 starts for $43,833 for owners Lincoln Farms, Rod and Sue Fleming, Neville McAlister and Bob Best.
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
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.”
