Hilary Barry pacing sweetly in front at Pukekohe today before a hopple carrier strap broke.
Oh no, it’s the Hilary Barry jinx as hopple carrier strap breaks - again!
By Barry Lichter • 5 January 2019
Two weeks out from the first Young Guns’ heat for fillies, Lincoln Farms’ big hope Hilary Barry is still having rotten luck.
The filly had been working so well in recent weeks, trainer Ray Green was confident we’d see her best at the Pukekohe trials today.
And it all looked to be going to script when Hilary Barry tore off the mobile gate to take the lead for driver Andre Poutama.
Still pacing sweetly with 700 metres to run, the filly suddenly went into a wild break and continued to gallop for a couple of hundred metres before returning to her gait and finishing 35 lengths from the leading pair.
The broken end of the hopple carrier strap which torpedoed Hilary Barry today.Unbelieveably, Poutama revealed that one of the filly’s hopple carrier straps had broken and become entangled around her hind leg.
“I saw it dangling there before we got to the half. It wrapped round her back leg and she galloped as soon as she got round the bend.
“We were really travelling at the time too and I don’t think they would have caught her.’’
Uncannily, the same thing happened when Hilary Barry had her first trial, and since then she’s also thrown a shoe during a workout and suffered a stone bruise.
Bad luck aside, Green is really happy with the progress Hilary Barry has made in recent weeks and believes she is on track to be a real contender for the $25,000 Young Guns Fillies’ Heat on January 18.
Stablemate Beaudiene Blinkz is also still on target for that race even though she was withdrawn from the heat today after her hocks were injected a couple of days ago.
Man Of Action is bolting for Zachary Butcher as he moves alongside Eighteen Carat on the home turn.Man Of Action’s easy kill
Green transferred Man Of Action into the fillies’ heat to boost numbers and “give the horse an easy kill” to lift his confidence.
And while the judge credited rival Eighteen Carat with a nose win, Butcher reported Man Of Action was just cruising at the finish and could easily have won.
“I was swinging on him,’’ Butcher said after the heat which was cut out in 2:05.2, the closing 800 metres in 60.3 and 400 in 28.3.
“Isn’t he a lovely mover,’’ said Green. “He looked like a monster coming round the corner.’’
Green was keen to give Man Of Action a confidence-builder after a recent let-up when he was eased in training following several beatings by his more precocious stablemates.
Man Of Action only has to continue his progress to give Lincoln Farms a potential six starters in the next Young Guns colts’ heat on February 8.
More news in Harness
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Ray reveals his theory on why rank outsider Sammy Lincoln can play a hand in the derby
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
