Hilary leads them, throws a shoe, and shows she’s not made of glass
By Barry Lichter • 25 November 2018
Like Cinderella fleeing the ball, Hilary Barry lost one of her slippers at Pukekohe yesterday, so fast was she skipping along.
And that made the run by the Bettor’s Delight filly even more creditable as she finished a close-up third in the two-year-old mile trial for driver Zachary Butcher.
“She ripped off one of her shoes about halfway round,’’ says trainer Ray Green. “Zac said he had to nurse her along after that so she’s gone really well.”
Hilary Barry, who hinted at what was to come when powering home the previous week, was given her head at the start by Butcher, and showed impressive speed to cross over from six on the gate.
She never put a foot wrong from then on despite throwing the shoe and, while nabbed late by Miss Shuga and Emmber, beaten two heads, she fought on well.
Hilary Barry … a real tradesman.“She was getting a bit tired - that’s the fastest she’s ever gone - but Zac didn’t really drive her out.”
The time for the mile was a slick 2:04, the fastest recorded so far by the new season’s juveniles at Pukekohe, with closing splits of 59.1 and 27.9.
“She’s not a real speedster, she’s tradesman-like, and is a real trier.’’
Green says he won’t be nominating Hilary Barry for the season’s first two-year-old race in the north on Friday night.
“There’s plenty of time for her. But I will put in my three who trialled on Friday night (Sir Tiger, Man Of Action and Perfect Stride) and see if they can get a field together.’’
Hilary Barry has made excellent progress at the workouts in the last few weeks since her initial blip when she galloped in two heats, heavily in season and then losing a hopple carrier strap.
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Little Missy Lincoln can stand up for herself in Young Guns fillies’ heat on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
5.44pm
“From a good front line draw Harry can run off the gate and find the front. He’s shown he’s got the speed to get there. And if he can go 2:42 again, or quicker, I thought he’d be a very good winning chance. It’s an easier field than the one he beat last time. He’s trained well this week.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.09pm
“She goes down to Cambridge for the first time so it’s a big drop in class. She also goes a lot better left-handed so I thought from the good draw she could run top three.”
Race 3: Lincoln Maree
6.34pm
“She paced a 1:56.7 mile in beating the amateurs last start but it looks like she’ll need a bit of luck from the draw this time. The two inside her like to lead so she could end up three fence or outside them. I’ll leave it up to Harry to get the right trip.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.34pm
“He’s a place chance. He likes bowling along but from five it’s hard to say where he’ll end up. He’s very consistent and he paced 2:42.3 last time so I can absolutely see him in the money.”
Race 6: Lincoln Linda
8.04pm
“She was in a very strong R40 to R48 race last time at Auckland against horses like Alecto, All Of Me and Cyclone Rebel, and she clocked 2:41.1, so back to Cambridge where she won her first race, and a much easier R38 to R40 field, she’s got to be a good winning chance. She’s best in front if Fergie can get there.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
4.42pm
“I’m not holding my breath with him. We won’t count that last run, when the leader went ballistic and he couldn’t get into the race, but he’s not well placed here.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.09pm
“She’s racing really well and this looks a bit easier than last time when she was trapped in the breeze in a strong field. I can’t see how she won’t be right in the fight.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
7.34pm
“I didn’t know what to expect on debut but she was very brave. I’m picking she’ll go well again but she’ll need a bit of luck - drawn the second line we’re at the mercy of others. We’ll poke her out and see. At least she won’t get parked this time.”
Race 10: Lincoln Wave
9.07pm
“We’re racing the best horses now but he’ll definitely go better than last time. Tony (Herlihy) said he felt super across the top but once in the straight he flattened out, which I half expected. I had him scoped afterwards just to make sure he was all right but he was short of a run, that’s all.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
9.07pm
“He went super when third last week and Fergie said just wait ’til he gets over 2700 metres, he’ll be a monster. He’s turned into a proper racehorse. From four there’ll be a bit of urgency early and hopefully he can get a suck along and get some of it.”
