Hormones settled, Sir Tiger’s back today but the cobwebs might need cleaning out
By Barry Lichter • 1 May 2020
All the signs are that Sir Tiger is ready to show more like his true worth when he resumes at Albion Park late this afternoon.
Trainer Al Barnes tipped Sir Tiger out in early February after he had managed only one placing in eight starts since being gelded last October.
“He just wasn’t right. He dropped a lot of weight and his hormone levels didn’t change - he was still very colty.
“He just needed a good let down to start life again and since he’s been back he’s been a lot quieter and easier to handle. He still bites and kicks and is a bit stubborn when he goes out onto the track but I can’t fault his work and he’s bright and is looking for his feed every morning and night.”
Best of all Sir Tiger “wanted to be there” when trialled at Albion Park last week, Barnes said.
Pitted against three others over 1660 metres, driver Hayden Barnes eased Sir Tiger back to last and didn’t pull out until 300 metres from home, coming widest on the turn and finishing on well to be only 8.7 metres from winner Tiz A Sizzler who clocked a mile rate of 1:58.5.
“He was keen in the trial and came out of it really well. I’d like to have trialled him again, but we can’t at the moment, so he’ll need the hit-out today.
“But two on the gate is a perfect draw for him. We don’t have to bustle him out, he can find a good position, maybe the one-one, and from there he could earn a cheque.
“I know he’s got ability. He proved that when he won first-up in 1:55.6.”
Sir Tiger races at 4.52pm NZ time at Albion Park today.
More news in Harness
Tyson KOs rivals but Ray floored by stewards’ post-race song and dance over assistant’s help
Dr Green goes to work on mentally fragile Tyson hoping to pen better script for Friday
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.”
