Trainer Ray Green and driver Andre Poutama discuss Friday night’s encouraging debut by Hilary Barry.
Everyone stoked with Hilary Barry’s debut - and Hilary calls her amazing
By Barry Lichter • 19 January 2019
Hilary Barry didn’t win on Friday night but her fine debut fifth thrilled her trainer and her Seven Sharp namesake.
And the filly remains on target for the March 8 Young Guns Fillies’ Final at Alexandra Park.
Television presenter Hilary Barry wasn’t able to watch the race live - she was on a flight at the time - but she has seen a replay.
“The human Hilary Barry can’t fast enough to save her life but the equine version is amazing,” she says.
Hilary Barry strides out during Friday night’s race at Alexandra Park.“I thought she did brilliantly, she was right up there with the leaders and showed tonnes of potential (in my humble opinion).”
Snookered four back on the markers early from her inside second row draw, driver Andre Poutama manoeuvred the filly to three back on the outer for the last lap.
Trainer Ray Green says he started getting a bit excited 150 metres from home when it looked like she might run in the money.
“She rushed into it but just flattened out the last 50 metres.
“I was quite happy with her. She went great.
“With that run under her belt and a better draw she won’t be far away in the final.
“If she gets a two hole trip she’ll be in the money for sure.’’
Poutama described the run as very encouraging.
Hilary Barry, arrowed, runs right into contention behind the leaders.“She fought all the way to the line.’’
The news on stablemate Beaudiene Blinkz, who ran last, is not so good.
“She pulled up a little off,’’ says Green.
“She didn’t look comfortable on the track and and wasn’t a happy horse afterwards.
“We’ll get the vet out and see if we can find the problem.’’
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Ray tells why he rates Lincoln Lou clearly best of Lincoln Farms’ quartet in the fourth race
It’s all up to Angus - Brisbane’s young gun needs to drive a pearler on Nemo at Redcliffe
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Mark Dux’s comments
Wednesday night at Redcliffe
Race 1: Captain Nemo
7.17pm NZ time
“It’s a reasonable field, they’re not push-overs, but they’re all beatable. It will all come down to who gets the right trip. If we have something go our way we could get some of it as there’s not a lot between them and I don’t think he’s far off now. We’ve got a bad draw again and there’s a bit of speed inside us so I’ll tell Angus to just play it by ear.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln La Moose
7.32pm
“He’s a pretty good horse. He was still below his best last time at Cambridge - he needed the race - but went very well for second behind King’s Watch. With his ace draw, he should be right up there for Zac (Butcher). He always looked a bit delicate but he’s got tougher.”
Race 4: Obadiah Dragon
7.32pm
“He’ll go a good race but our others look better here. His last run was below par for him so we took a blood off him and he had a bit of a virus going on. He was at the tail end of it but it was enough to stop him.”
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.32pm
“Even if he’s half a run short, I don’t think it will matter, he’ll still be too good for this lot. He only had a mild virus which came right with treatment and he’s trained on well since. He feels pretty good and if I was betting man, I’d bet him for sure based on his last run, which was massive.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.32pm
“He’s in a ‘coming of age’ phase. He rushed up beside them last start and wanted to lay all over them and give them a hug. But that’s normal coltish behaviour. He does that in training as well, rushes up and switches off. He has a lot of ability but also a few little behaviour traits that we need to get on top of.”
Race 6: My Copy
8.24pm
“It won’t be easy from four on the second row but he’s very honest and, if opportunity knocks, he’ll be right there. If he gets a trip, he’s always ready to pounce.”
Race 9: Tyson
9.39pm
“He should be one of the favourites. The raw ability is there and he’ll definitely win races as he has a bit of speed. How far he will take us we have yet to find out but I thought he did really well last time given the run he had.”
