Tiger out to climax ripping year for Al with Lincoln Farms - and lots to look forward to

Trainer Al Barnes isn’t banking on Sir Tiger clinching one almighty year for his Lincoln Farms horses on Tuesday but he’s tipping the horse will improve on his run last Friday when he was dead unlucky not to win.

The eighth alongside Sir Tiger’s name doesn’t reflect the quality of his performance or the deftness of driver Hayden Barnes, who manoeuvred for inside runs and only needed a gap up the home straight to be rewarded.

“Hayden thought he was home if he’d got a split,” said Barnes of Sir Tiger’s effort which saw him full of running and blocked for a run until the last 50 metres.

Barnes told stewards who probed the driving tactics of the second favourite that the intention had been to drive Sir Tiger more defensively from the outside of the second row in the hope that he would respond better.

“And it worked. We wanted to keep him keen and interested and he was a lot better and wanted to do it.

“That’s not how we’ll drive him all the time but, while we’re trying to get him to try harder, it’s best.

“He was definitely sharper and he’ll keep improving now.”

Barnes says given Sir Tiger lacks serious gate speed the plan on Tuesday will be to just come out as well as he can from two and hopefully get a nice run handy to the pace.

“We won’t be able to cross and sit on Pete McMullens’ back (behind Will The Wizard) but we’ll see how much speed we can get out of him to be handy. It’s better than being out the back like last time.”

Barnes says he saw some light in Sir Tiger’s behaviour last week, evidence that his recent gelding might be working - “he was more settled in himself and not as naughty at the track.

“We used a straight bit on him too and that seemed to make him keener.”

Al Barnes with partner Cassie Saunders.25 wins and more than A$150,000

A win by Sir Tiger on Tuesday would climax an incredible year for Barnes, who trains out of the tiny town of Marburg, 56km west of Brisbane.

Since trainer Ray Green started sending horses to Barnes at the start of February, he’s won 25 races and A$154,266 for Lincoln Farms, all but three of them driven by Barnes’ son Hayden.

The ball started rolling with Trojan Banner who won seven races straight and A$32,724 and Lincolns Girl (5 wins, A$23,168) before reinforcements arrived in May in the form of Vasari (4 wins, A$26,890) and Northview Hustler (5 wins, A$53,100).

After the sale to the United States of Trojan Banner, Lincolns Girl and Vasari, Lincoln Farms sent over Billy Lincoln (3 wins, A$12,787) who was also quickly sold, and Sir Tiger (1 win, A$5506).

Barnes now has Hustler and Sir Tiger along with three who have yet to race in Queensland - Joey Lincoln, Super Easy and newest recruit Double Or Nothing.

Plenty to look forward to

“I want to thank everyone at Lincoln Farms from all of us,” said Barnes. “It’s been a fantastic year and next year looks like being even better. We’ve got a lot to look forward to.

“Northview Hustler starts fast work tomorrow. He’s doing well and his leg looks fantastic. He should be ready to race in the first week of February.

Double Or Nothing … ready in three weeks.“Double Or Nothing is eating and drinking well and has put back on the weight he lost on the way over. He started jogging today and should be ready to race in about three weeks.

“Super Easy will have his first educational trial on Friday. He’s doing a little bit wrong at home but will be right when he hits a big track. He’s a little bit green but he’s settling down.

“And I love Joey Lincoln. He’s a real character, a little dude, who has a lovely nature, and I’m sure we’ll have some fun with him. Going left-handed seems to agree with him but we’ll know more when he starts trialling.”

Sir Tiger races at 6.22pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.