Old Vasari scores again and you can mark that one down to a patient drive from Hayden

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.