Sir Tiger (Hayden Barnes) never raised a sweat when winning on debut in Queensland.
From the second row, Sir Tiger will sit coiled up on the markers, waiting for his chance
By Barry Lichter • 17 October 2019
Sir Tiger will be driven quietly at Albion Park on Friday night, his chances completely dependent on what the pole runner does.
Drawn the inside of the second row, trainer Al Barnes says Sir Tiger will simply poke up the fence and take his chances late.
“He’ll be in a good spot, either behind the leader or three fence, but either way he should earn a cheque, we just don’t know what colour.”
Barnes is hoping Special Reserve, “the best horse in the race” holds the front as he says he can’t see a lot of speed.
That would put Sir Tiger in the trail with a good chance to run the leader down. Three deep and he could be in trouble as he lacks a yard of high speed.
“Special Reserve is an honest bread and butter horse and he’ll be hard to beat, especially if it ends up being just a dash up the lane.”
Barnes says Sir Tiger has had a couple of fast runs in training this week to make up for the quiet previous week when he was super fresh.
He will still parade a little fresh through missing last week’s race, when the meeting was abandoned after heavy rain left the track unnegotiable for the mobile barrier car.
“We over-trained him the previous week when he was beaten in the Pot Of Gold Final,” Barnes said, acknowledging they were still learning about their new recruit.
Sir Tiger endured a torrid run that day, three wide for the first 600 metres from the second row, before looping the field (with cover) to sit parked, the effort telling up the stretch when he weakened to sixth.
Sir Tiger kicked off his Queensland campaign before that with an easy 1:56.6 mile rate win over 1660 metres.
It is 16 months since the Grant Dixon-trained Special Reserve won a race at Albion Park and, while a consistent place getter, he has had nine starts since his last win at Redcliffe.
Sir Tiger races at 12.42pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
More news in Harness
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Nate having a last spin round on his wee mate Eric - and he’s in with a very good chance
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
