Double up on Double Or Nothing on Friday night - he’ll enjoy a decent drop in grade
By Barry Lichter • 13 February 2020
Double Or Nothing might have drawn the outside of the gate at Albion Park on Friday but, dropping in grade, he is the one to beat.
You might have expected Double Or Nothing to have felt two hard runs in a week, when he was placed both times in 1:53.4 mile rate races, but trainer Al Barnes says the horse has been right on top of his game this week.
“The runs seem to have sharpened him up and he may just be too strong for them on Friday.
“It’s a nice little race for him. I”m not sure if he’ll lead - Hayden may have to park out - but we’re both confident he’d be OK breezing.”
Double Or Nothing is strong to the line, running third last Saturday night in a fast-run 1:53.4 mile rate.Barnes says if Double Or Nothing makes the front - and he may have earned enough respect now to get there - he can’t see anything being able to sit outside him on a 1:53 rate and beat him.
“He does have ability and tried really hard in both his races last week.”
Last Tuesday Double Or Nothing led and was swamped in the last couple of strides, going under by a neck. And last Saturday, after being four wide into the first bend, Hayden Barnes landed a one-one trip, challenged three wide turning in and finished on strongly to go down by just 3.3 metres.
Double Or Nothing’s recent times have been much faster than his rivals - last start winner Sir Jujon clocked only a mile rate of 1:55.1 and Whitehaven Lass’ recent win was only in 1:57.6.
At 65, he is rated five points better than the next in the field, Callmedemaro, who has won only three of his 42 career starts, and Soulwriter who has won only one of his last 29 starts - at Redcliffe.
Double Or Nothing races at 3.42pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.
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Ray’s comments
Tuesday at Addington
Race 9: Debbie Lincoln
4.03pm
“She’s drawn out but I think she’s got the gate speed to be put into the race. You’ve got to be handy to beat the good ones and we don’t want to be stuck behind some of the others. The one drawn two inside us, Arafura, looks the one to beat but Debbie is as good as anything in the race in my opinion. It’s not going to be easy but I’m hopeful. She’s done well down here and is in good shape.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 5: Im Not The Maid
6.17pm
“The draw helps and while she’s very honest she still needs to improve. Gary Hall said she was a bit stop-start last time but he cut corners and wasn’t too far away at the finish. He reckoned his toe rope broke at the top of the straight.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
7.49pm
“She showed no speed when resuming and it’s hard to see her playing a part in this.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
7.49pm
“She went the best of them last time, was hampered turning or home, and could improve.”
Race 8: Jessie Lincoln
7.49pm
“She’s a big filly but so far, so good. There are a few negatives, like the second row draw and it being her first time under lights, but I think she could go quite well. It’s not a wonderful lot against her and she’s training well.”
Race 8: Lincoln’s Spice
7.49pm
“She over-raced early first-up and burned herself out. She’s a delicate little thing but we’ll put some plugs in her this week. Last time in I thought she could be the best of them. Whether the others have caught her up or she’s gone backwards I don’t know.”
