Hayden takes it on the chin and pledges to give our Girl a better trip this time
By Barry Lichter • 28 June 2019
Driver Hayden Barnes admits he had a brain snap last week on Lincoln’s Girl.
But he promises there’ll be no repeat when the filly tackles the A$16,000 Rising Stars Championship Final at Albion Park on Saturday night.
And, if things pan out and they go hard in front, trainer Al Barnes can see the filly taking out the thick end of the good purse.
Hayden drove the Lincoln Farms’ owned filly like she was a Rolls Royce in last week’s heat, engaging in a high speed duel over the first 400 metres which was cut out in a white hot 25.9.
Hayden Barnes … put his hands up over last week’s drive.He’d all but crossed over to the lead on the filly when Matt Elkins on Aphorism threw everything at his horse trying to hold him out.
Lincoln’s Girl eventually made the lead but it was at a cost and she ran out of puff in the run home, still battling on bravely for fourth, only 5.5 metres from the winner who clocked a 1:54.5 mile rate.
From six, one from the outside of the gate, there’ll be no early charge for the lead this time.
“There’s too much speed inside her for that,’’ says Al Barnes.
“She’s better anyway when not used in the first 300 metres or 400 metres.
“If Hayden’s patient and drives a smart race I can see her winning. He can drop off, find a possie, and slide up from the 800. If they go silly up front he’ll come with one run and a 55 half should be able to win it.’’
Barnes says it’s an even field for the final - “there are a couple as good as her, but none better. The horse that won our heat (Amillion Promises) is consistent. But we’ve got the right horse to win the race. She’s tough.”
Three starts back, in her last win and fourth overall in Queensland, Lincoln’s Girl clocked a hot 1:53.3 mile rate after being three wide to the death seat.
Barnes’ only worry is that last week’s early burn might have fired up the filly and she might try to do the same on Saturday night.
Princess Tiffany, outer, and Belle Of Montana battle it out in the Three-Year-Old Diamond at Addington.“I want her to learn to settle as the plan is to get to the Oaks.’’
The A$100,000 Queensland Oaks (2138m) is run at Albion Park on July 13.
Barnes will get to see the dominant favourite for the Oaks when she trials at 4.38pm between races at Albion Park on Friday.
The All Stars’ New Zealand Oaks winner (Our) Princess Tiffany, who went under by a nose to Belle Of Montana last time in a stirring home stretch duel at the Harness Jewels, is drawn to start from the ace in a 1660 metre heat.
Lincoln’s Girl races at 9.38pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday.
More news in Harness
Friday night’s main event: In the blue corner, Tyson, in the red corner, Sugar Ray
After 40 years in the sulky, Fergie’s just loving his renaissance in the lincoln green silks
Big-spending Mike Tanev snares The Rascal and he’s off to Canada next week
Dreams Of Eric goes from black and blue to blue and white, now for Harness 5000
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.”
