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 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.”
