Billy Lincoln bowling along in the lead for Hayden Barnes in his Queensland debut win last week. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Tiger should win from the outside, Billy can too, but he will have to earn it from the back
By Barry Lichter • 2 October 2019
Sir Tiger might have drawn the outside of the gate but he should still be too strong for his rivals at Albion Park on Friday night.
That’s trainer Al Barnes’ simple assessment of the $11,000 Pot Of Gold Final for which Sir Tiger is favourite after his impressive Queensland debut win last week.
“He’s improved in leaps and bounds since his last race and should just be too good for them.”
Sir Tiger went into last week’s heat well underdone after a training hiccup when he kicked out and ended up with a huge haematoma high up inside his leg.
Sir Tiger bolts away from his rivals in last week’s heat.And while he easily put away his rivals with a 7 metre win in 1:55.6, Barnes could tell by his post race heart rate of 101 that he was well off being fully fit.
On Friday night he believes the race sets up nicely for Sir Tiger as he can see Narissa McMullen charging out on Betterthanspraying and setting a genuine tempo.
“I don’t know what Tiger’s gate speed is like and how safe he is but Hayden will find out.
“He can come out, balance, and progress forward after a couple of hundred metres and roll to the chair.”
From there, says Barnes, Sir Tiger should have the stamina to beat them.
Sir Tiger will also be better geared up this week with a pole to help keep him straight.
Poor draw for Billy on Thursday
Billy Lincoln, who also scored easily in his first Brisbane race last week, lines up again on Thursday, drawn the inside of the second row in the opening race at 2.50pm.
On paper it looks a poor line-up but Barnes says sometimes that can make it harder to win from the back row, especially over only a mile with a pacemaker like Datsgood drawn to lead and capable of running 1:56.
“Billy will have to go back to last and circle them and you only need one to gallop in your face and you’re in trouble.
“It will be a test for him, he’ll have to earn it and do a bit of work, and he’s still not a racehorse yet. He’s very green and has a lot of learning to do so it will be interesting to see what he can do.
“But he would have taken a lot of confidence out of his win.”
Billy Lincoln made short work of his rivals last week, pressing forward to lead and cruising home by 9.7 metres, closing in 58.2 and 28.6 to record a mile rate of 1:58.7 for the 2138 metres.
“I don’t think the drop back to a mile helps him but ability-wise it’s not a great field.”
Billy Lincoln races at Albion Park at 2.50pm NZ time on Thursday.
Sir Tiger races at 8.12pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
More news in Harness
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
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
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.”
