Vasari, wide out, gets up on the line to nail the favourite Tennyson Bromac at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Old Vasari scores again and you can mark that one down to a patient drive from Hayden
By Barry Lichter • 11 August 2019
A patient drive by Hayden Barnes saw Lincoln Farms’ Vasari register his third and best win in Queensland last night.
Starting from the back row in a strong field of higher rated horses at Albion Park, Vasari looked up against it, which was reflected in his $14 odds.
And when the favourite, the former All Stars’ pacer Tennyson Bromac turned for home in front, and Vasari was still with the tailenders and four wide, it looked curtains.
Vasari, extreme left, is four wide and still near the tail of the field as they head for home.But while Tennyson Bromac worked hard to find the death seat early, Barnes gave Vasari an easy trip three back on the outer. And when he asked the big horse to go, Vasari really put in, charging down the outer to nail Tennyson Bromac right on the wire.
“It was a good drive by Hayden,” said trainer Al Barnes. “He showed a bit of patience and he hit the line full of running.
“It didn’t surprise me, he’s been going good races and with a good trip in a small field he was really suited.
“He just loves to roll - he can’t give you a 26 but he can run 28 quarters all day.”
With closing sectionals of 28.6 and 28, and a mile rate of 1:55.8, the pace was made to order for Vasari who scored by half a head, even though commentator Chris Barsby said it was too close to call.
The win was the 15th of Vasari’s career, which started in New Zealand where he showed high speed, winning five of his 26 starts for trainer Ray Green.
The win, worth $4723, elevated Vasari’s rating to 80, which will make it even tougher for him in the future.
But Barnes says the horse, now six, seems to be living up to the potential he showed earlier in his career.
He is raced by Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street along with Ian Middleton, Rod and Sue Fleming and Peter Jeffares.
The commentator couldn’t call it but Vasari has a clear margin on Tennyson Bromac.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
