Two stone lighter and Sir Tiger looks ready to roar after smart trial run
By Barry Lichter • 26 November 2019
A new look Sir Tiger showed he might now be ready to fight like a tiger when he ran a smart trial at Albion Park this evening.
Having his first serious hitout since being gelded last month, Sir Tiger finished just a head behind three-year-old Alta Christiano colt Will The Wizard in a 1660 metre heat, cut out in a mile rate of 1:58.4.
And, best of all, despite being well short of fitness, Sir Tiger showed in running home in 56.8 and 27.8, that he might now be better equipped to put together some much more genuine performances on the racetrack.
Sir Tiger has been on the easy list since being gelded.Trainer All Barnes is adamant that Sir Tiger’s coltish behaviour had been holding him back. Despite winning on debut in Queensland in September, his next three starts didn’t reflect his real ability.
“I’m sure it was affecting him. He resented a lot - the whip and any form of encouragement. When push came to shove and he had to knuckle down, he didn’t want to do it.
“I reckon he threw it in a few times but I’m very happy after seeing that run today.
“There was nothing wrong with those times considering he’s well short of fitness. We haven’t done a lot of hard stuff with him, just kept him ticking over.
“That was his first serious run but it was good enough to say he can go round next week and be competitive.”
Barnes says despite residual testosterone likely to last six weeks in Sir Tiger’s system, his son Hayden had already noted a change in the horse’s behaviour on the track.
And Sir Tiger drove perfectly today, taking up an early trail from the inside of the second row before ending up three deep.
And when Barnes was able to extricate him 600 metres out when Will The Wizard left the one-one to go up and challenge, Sir Tiger sprung on the offensive too.
Sir Tiger quickly ranged up to the leader turning in and he never looked like flinching in the run home, Barnes only slapping the reins at him.
Sir Tiger has so far won three of his 19 starts and A$36,796 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.
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Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
What’s Up The Hill.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
5.09pm
“She’s working really well and, from the good draw, hopefully she can run a drum. The field’s not that much harder than the one she beat last time at Manawatu (when parked for the last lap).”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
5.09pm
“We’re very happy with him - he’s come back a better horse. He went well at Auckland last start and is working well. We’ll be looking to go forward from the gate and hopefully get a gun run through behind Onyx Shard. On ability, he’s the better chance of the two.”
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.39pm
“He stepped like a bullet in his first go from a stand here in March. I thought he’d do the same on the second day but he galloped. We’ve got an overcheck on and hopple shorteners on Tuesday so he should make a good beginning. If he can step and lead, then maybe take a trail, he should be hard to beat. He likes it down there where the track is quite soft.”
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.04pm
“I thought I had Kevin Kline covered on Tuesday when we got to the straight because she was really travelling but he kicked away on us. It would be nice if she can get out of the gate as well again - she has good gate speed - and, if she does, she can get some of it again.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
6.04pm
“He was too good for them on Tuesday, thanks to a great Fergy drive, and he’s in the same field again this time. The extra distance and wide draw shouldn’t make much of a difference and he’s our best of the night.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.02pm
“He’ll be hard to beat again if he steps like he did on Tuesday. The 10 metre handicap shouldn’t stop him. I think he’s even better if he follows something and the extra 500 metres isn’t a worry.”
