Three wide with the tail-enders turning for home last week, Its Super Easy ran past three horses in the straight.
Signs of improvement from Its Super Easy and Al says he’ll keep getting better
By Barry Lichter • 10 March 2020
Its Super Easy has shown enough improvement in his trackwork in the last week to have trainer Al Barnes thinking he can run top four at Albion Park this afternoon.
And with a crucial gear change to help him steer better, Barnes says he’s sure he can finish closer than 42 metres from the winner, like he did last week.
The green three-year-old tried to make an early move from the back last week but because he was on and off the bit, driver Hayden Barnes wasn’t able to slot him in and was forced to restrain to the tail of the field.
Still with the tailenders and three wide turning for home he ran past three up the home straight to finish fourth, recording closing sectionals of 58.78 and 30.08.
“Hayden couldn’t steer him round the turns but he made good ground up the straight. We’ve fitted him with a Murphy blind this time and that should help - he’s steered a lot better at home wearing it.
“He’s had a good week, he’s been a lot sharper in his trackwork. Usually he’s lazy, hangs, and doesn’t want to do it.”
Barnes says from two on the gate, Its Super Easy should be able to hold his position in this afternoon’s third race for three-year-olds, instead of having to go back to last.
“It’s a handy field, they’re not maidens, but he can sit on the better ones and be 15 or 20 metres closer in the running.
“He’s improved enough to be competitive and he’ll keep improving. He should win in his next two or three starts.”
Its Super Easy tackles the longer trip of 2138 metres for the first time today after two runs over 1660 metres.
Its Super Easy races at 5.12pm NZ time at Albion Park today.
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
