You’ll have to ask ornery Sir Tiger how he’s going to go on Friday night - Al can’t tell us
By Barry Lichter • 18 December 2019
Trainer Al Barnes would happily have handed over the phone to Sir Tiger when asked how he’ll go at Albion Park on Friday night.
That’s because Barnes says only the horse knows what he’s going to do and whether he’ll try his hardest.
It’s fair to say Sir Tiger has well and truly tested Barnes’ patience since arriving from New Zealand and he’s run very much hot and cold since his debut Queensland win back in September.
Barnes eventually gelded the horse, hoping to improve his terrible manners and his efforts on the racetrack.
But while Sir Tiger doesn’t bite so much and is easier to walk from A to B, he’s still difficult to train, wanting to rear and spin round instead of walking during his interval training sessions.
“He’s the type of horse who needs to have a routine but we haven’t been able to because it’s been so hot and you can’t cook him. It was 45 degrees on Monday when we galloped him.”
Barnes has been attempting to up the horse’s workload since he resumed last week as a warm favourite and ran out of puff in his first race for seven weeks.
While hampered in heavy traffic early and forced four wide round the home turn, Barnes says his only real excuse was that he was short of race fitness.
“He had nothing left last week but you can’t put one on his bum in a race anyway or he pulls up.
“Hopefully he’ll improve this time because it’s not an overly hard race. He’s got a horrible draw (four on the second line) so we’ll have to drive him quietly again.”
Barnes had Sir Tiger treated yesterday by a chiropractor who found he was out on both sides of his sacroiliac (a joint at the back of the pelvis).
“It wasn’t bad, just a little niggle, but it might help him.”
At his best, Barnes says Sir Tiger is capable of going round the field, sitting parked, and winning in a 1:55 mile rate.
“But with him, you never know what you’ve got.”
Sir Tiger races at 9.24pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
