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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Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
4.58pm
“We backed off him after he was gelded but he’s in good shape and I think he’ll go quite well. He may need a race but he’s still classy enough to get the job done if he gets the right trip from four.”
Race 3: Sugar Ray Lincoln
5.54pm
“He’s dropping down in grade again and, subject to no dramas from his awkward inside draw, you have to consider him a serious chance. I’m very happy to have Carter on board, he’s an experienced driver now, and it’s a winnable race for him.”
Race 5: Timmy Lincoln
6.48pm
“He’s a beautiful, big American Ideal colt who showed quite a lot early on. It’s his first time off the place and first time at Alex Park, so it will all be new to him but he feels like he’s got a little bit of speed and hopefully he’ll do things right.”
Race 9: Copy Ten Four
8.54pm
“He’s a strong horse and his training has been much improved since his last race which seems to have woken him up. Right-handed is still an issue for him though - he doesn’t get the corners as well - but other than that, he’s a serious chance.”
