Few tracks turn as much as Redcliffe raceway, near Moreton Bay in Queensland.
Tricky Redcliffe triangle may not be enough to stop Lincoln’s Girl and Vasari on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 6 June 2019
In-form pacers Lincoln’s Girl and Vasari tackle the tricky Redcliffe circuit on Friday night, with trainer Al Barnes reasonably confident both will handle it well.
The track, 30 minutes from downtown Brisbane, is an unusual 833 metre triangle, with a short 170 metre home straight, a turning setup which doesn’t suit some horses.
But if history is anything to go by Lincoln’s Girl, drawn the pole, should be right in the hunt, while Vasari, drawn the outside of the second line, will have to work overtime to win.
In the last 12 months 19% of races have been won by the pole runner, while only 11% have scored from wide on the second line.
Inside barrier draws have a big advantage at Redcliffe.Lincoln’s Girl, impressive winner of her last two starts over 1660 metres at Albion Park, steps up to the longer trip of 2040 metres as Barnes tests her ability to run the upcoming Oaks distances.
“She’ll get 2000 metres round there no trouble, it’s more a question of how she handles the track. She’s not a bad pacer so I don’t expect too much of a problem.
“But from the 2040 metre start it’s only 50 metres to the first turn and that can be hairy at pace.
“She’s not brilliant out of the arm - you’ve got to keep her balanced - so I would rather have drawn the middle from where she could balance up and go forward at her leisure. From one you’ve got to hold them out.
“The two horse, Weasel, gets out OK so it could be a little tricky.’’
Barnes is delighted with the way Lincoln’s Girl has come through her last two wins which she has cut out in excellent mile rates of 1:54.2 and 1:53.3.
Vasari has been going even faster, clocking a sensational all-the-way 1:52 and a smidgeon over 1:51.5 when second last time.
“I wasn’t disappointed at all in his last start. He just couldn’t muster fast enough from one out of the gate and had to work very hard to get round to the lead.
“He doesn’t possess brilliant gate speed and that will cost him races.
“But it’s a bit of a drop in grade at Redcliffe and he’s the best horse in the race. He’ll be competitive and should run top three.’’
Barnes is confident Vasari will pace around Redcliffe with no dramas.
“The four horse, Sache Girl, gets out OK and Hayden might be able to follow her out.
“He’s got respect now and if he comes charging they’ll let him go. He’s a big, free-running horse who’s happiest when let slide.’’
Vasari races at 6.50pm NZ time on Friday.
Lincoln’s Girl races at 9.50pm NZ time on Friday.
More news in Harness
Hopes for a good Friday night at the Park as blinds go on Wave, Sammy and Prince
Sugar Ray signals start of good year ahead with tough win; blinkers for Lincoln Wave
Winners and losers in dates for the new season - your month by month harness guide
Ray: Sammy Lincoln has ‘turned the corner’ and can go on with it on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Angelic Copy
4.53pm
“She’s done everything right and trialled really nicely. I think she’s forward enough to give some cheek. She’s only small. You like to think when you get a good two-year-old like her that they’ll get stronger and transition into a nice three-year-old but she hasn’t grown an inch. But she tries hard and enjoys being out there.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.28pm
“I’m looking forward to seeing him. You never really know ’til you get to the races but he’s trialled well enough to start and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went a good race, despite the draw. He’s a nice sensible colt who’s done nothing wrong and he could develop into a really nice three-year-old.”
Race 6: Lincoln Wave
7.22pm
“He was starting to get into the habit of switching off so we trained him in blinds this week and he went pretty well. He was good from a standing start at the trials with shorteners in and Maurice was actually quite bullish about his standing start manners and thinks that, in time, he’ll end up being a quick beginner. If he steps well, and can land in the first one or two, he’ll definitely be hard to get round.”
Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.22pm
“He’s not spectacular from a stand but he will get away, albeit sometimes a bit slowly. Lincoln Wave has more speed than him but if it comes down to a slugfest he’d be too strong as he’s rock hard fit.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.23pm
“The blinds go back on this week and if he steps and leads like he did three starts ago that would make him the one to beat. He showed with that win that he’s above average and will be a serious chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.23pm
“You could argue she’s a Cambridge horse but sometimes when you throw them in with the bear cats they lift their game and I thought she was really good here last week. Tony (Cameron) said she’d have finished a bit closer too if he hadn’t had to take hold of her close to home (when he ran out of room and hit a marker pole).”
Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.23pm
“We’ve got blinds on him this week. Harry said he lost concentration a couple of times last week, including at the top of the straight, and thought he’d be a bit more on to it with blinds on. I still thought his was the run of the race last time - none of the others could have done what he did - and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him score.”
