It won’t be Super Easy for latecomer on Tuesday but he’s getting there, says Al
By Barry Lichter • 24 February 2020
“The penny hasn’t dropped but it’s on the way.”
That’s how Marburg trainer Al Barnes describes his latest Lincoln Farms’ newcomer Its Super Easy who debuts at Albion Park on Tuesday.
The Art Major - Shy Annie three-year-old meets only six rivals in the second race and, while Barnes says he won’t be disgraced and can earn a cheque, the conditions hugely favour two-race winner Dataldo.
Barnes thought he was nominating for a maiden race but in fact it was for three-year-olds who haven’t won a race this season.
“I’ve decided to let him go round anyway for the experience. There’s no point in him sitting round at home when he needs to race to learn.
(Its) Super Easy (Andre Poutama) leads Larry Lincoln in winning a workout at Pukekohe last September.“He’ll be competitive but from six we’ll let him find a spot, settle in the field and run on.
“He will develop gate speed. When Brendan drove him into third in a trial behind Northview Hustler, when he paced 1:55, he said he felt like he wanted to run the gate.
“I don’t think he’s mentally ready for that yet. It may take him 10 or 15 starts before he’s a racehorse but he has run a 28 quarter and 57.5 half and that’s good enough speed for now.”
Its Super Easy has had two official trials in preparation for his debut, running a distant third to Northview Hustler on January 21, pacing a quick 1:55 mile rate, then winning when left in front on February 4 in a 2:00.7 mile rate.
Dataldo, however, has racked up two wins and seven placings from 15 starts and was a close up third in a 1:53 mile rate last start.
Its Super Easy has come a long way since he arrived from New Zealand a big, overgrown dummy, but Barnes says he has a way to go yet before he produces his best, like his brother Alleluia who has won 35 races, most of them in Queensland.
“He’ll do his best on Tuesday and won’t disgrace himself but whatever he does, he’ll improve on.”
Barnes will also trial the vastly improved Joey Lincoln on Tuesday.
“He’s flying in his work at home. When he arrived he was running laps of our 650 metre track in 60, and doing things wrong. The other day he ran up in 52, and paced super. When they gallop, they don’t go any faster than 50.
“He only went round quietly last time but Hayden will give him a decent education tomorrow.”
Its Super Easy races at 4.37pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
