Sir Tiger plays with his rivals first-up and looks set to claim Pot Of Gold Final next week
By Barry Lichter • 27 September 2019
Sir Tiger earned favouritism for next week’s A$11,000 Pot Of Gold Final with a completely dominant win in his 1660 metre heat at Albion Park today.
Having his first start in Queensland for Lincoln Farms’ trainer Al Barnes, Sir Tiger treated his rivals with contempt, staying out of the early 27.4 burn from the second row before coming three wide to breeze at the bell and romping clear untested in the straight.
The performance had commentator Chris Barsby excited as he heralded the latest of Lincoln Farms’ recruits with the call: “He opens up and sprints away. That’s impressive, that’s sharp.”
Sir Tiger and Hayden Barnes are playing with their rivals.The Sir Lincoln colt was credited with a 7.8 metre margin and mile rate of 1:55.6, all the while driver Hayden Barnes sitting quietly in the cart as he sailed home in 57.2 and 28.3.
“Hayden was very happy and said he felt very sharp - and there’s still a lot of improvement in him as his heart rate was high at 101 afterwards.
“We knew he’d need the run (after missing work with a haematoma) but also thought he’d be forward enough to be too good for that lot.
“He was cruising at the finish, he did it so easily, and I’m looking forward to next week’s final.”
Barnes says Sir Tiger will be better geared up next Friday night too - “we have a couple of little changes to make.
“We’ll put a lugging pole on him. We knew he wore one in New Zealand but didn’t know which way he’d hang.
“Hayden said he got in a bit today so we can fix that.”
Barnes believes Sir Tiger is very similar to Lincoln Farms’ Trojan Banner whom he trained to seven straight wins before his sale to the States and is a contender on Sunday night for the title of Queensland three-year-old pacer of the year.
“He has speed and stamina and I can see him developing more high speed here, as Hustler’s done.
The margin over Jovial Julie is nearly 8 metres and Sir Tiger is cruising.“He will develop into a very nice horse and do a really good job over here.
“He should win a few quite quickly.”
Sir Tiger has now won three of his 16 starts and boosted his bank balance by A$3660 today for owners John and Lynne Street, Kim Miller, Brian Rabbitt, Steve Beckett, Kevin Bell, Michael Brereton, Denis James, Margaret Rabbitt, and the 10-strong Excell syndicate of Christine Stuart, Christine Rupp, Lynda Irwin-Parson, Liz Bilton, Sue Donovan, Sue Wilson, Jackie Taylor, Mary Ingles, Sharon Rack and Shirley Arnett.
Sir Tiger will meet the top finishers of the three Pot Of Gold heats today, including Grant Dixon’s pair Signorina Jujon, who also sat parked in her heat and scored a slugging head win in the fractionally faster time of 1:55 and Cherry’s The Best who clocked a much slower 1:57.3 in her heat win.
Sir Tiger became the sixth individual winner Barnes has trained for Lincoln Farms this year and took his overall tally to 21 wins, after Billy Lincoln’s all-the-way success on Thursday.
Barnes will get a hat-trick when his daughter Cassie marries on Saturday night and is hoping for four top-of-the-podium finishes in a row when Northview Hustler races the same 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.”
