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.
More news in Harness
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
Bang! Lincoln Wave’s tyre blows out, startling rival drivers but Alabar win would shock more
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.”
