Lincoln’s Girl, arrowed, makes a run five wide turning in despite having lost an early stretch, galloping out of the gate.
Naughty Girl will trial on Tuesday as Al tries new gear to settle her down
By Barry Lichter • 17 April 2019
Trainer Al Barnes will trial Lincoln’s Girl on Tuesday with a couple of gear changes after she blew to bits behind the gate at Albion Park yesterday.
Barnes reports the Lincoln Farms owned filly was simply too keen in the score-up and pulled very hard before galloping on gate release.
“Hayden didn’t get the chance to even leave the gate,’’ said Barnes who planned to launch the filly from out wide and attack for the lead.
Barnes will now trial Lincoln’s Girl on Tuesday in a more severe bit and hopple shorteners in an effort to keep her settled.
And he will race Lincoln’s Girl three days later when she will hopefully have some of the mischief taken out of her, a fiery trait which often saw her spoil her chances in New Zealand.
The trial will also serve to tick off one of the two out-of-draw barrier positions she was dealt after her misdemeanour yesterday.
Barnes says, gallop apart, he was really happy with the way Lincoln’s Girl performed yesterday when she was obviously switched on after her first-up win the previous week.
“For her to even catch up, let alone look like she might run into the placings at one stage, was a big effort considering the winner went a mile rate of 1:52.8.
“She got tired up the straight but was entitled to.’’
Lincoln’s Girl was allowed to coast home in seventh spot behind white hot favourite Regulus.
She still clocked the third fastest closing 800 metres in the race of 57.3 behind Regulus, 55.6, and runner-up Golddigger Girl, 56.94.
How Lincoln’s Girl compared on the clock yesterday.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Sammy Lincoln
6.18pm
“He was checked and locked wheels into the first turn last week and he had a decent puncture wound in his leg from where they ran into him so you certainly couldn’t condemn him for galloping. He’s a really nice horse, who is going to win races quickly. He hasn’t missed any work, and should be right in it.”
Race 3: Lincoln Wave
6.43pm
“He’s drawn wide again (six) but he’s good enough to get the job done. It’s a bit more of a test for him but there are no cup horses in there and he’s a pretty nice horse. We’ve waited for both him and Sammy Lincoln because of their setbacks at two but it’s been worth it.”
Race 4: Johnny Lincoln
7.11pm
“He was very tough in winning after sitting parked last week. He’s awkwardly drawn again but he tries hard and, with a bit of luck and a good trip, he can get some of it.”
Race 6: Tyson
8.08pm
“Completely forget his run last week when he had no luck in the running. He’s a definite chance.”
Race 6: Spiritual Bliss
8.08pm
“She took no harm from the incident last Friday and has trained on well. I think she’ll go well. If you analyse her run, they went down the back in 27.8 and she did well to finish on for fourth after sitting parked.”
