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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Les Harding
Monday at Globe Derby
Race 6: Beaudiene Rocknroll
6.34pm NZ time
This race will tell us how he measures up against the local horses. We decided to go for this lower graded race, despite having lower prize money, instead of going to the trials one more time. He won the second of two trials on April 21, beating race rival Hezrockinroyalty by four metres. Run over 2230 metres he clocked 57.7 for his last half and 1:59.7 for his last mile. From the pole he’ll start short and be hard to beat.
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 7: Lincoln Lou
8.25pm
“He’s a beautiful little horse who doesn’t do anything wrong. He got held up at a crucial time last week and got home well (for sixth). He gets out pretty well so should get a good trip from two. He’ll go his usual honest race. He’s improving all the time, he’s a gutsy little guy, but whether he can measure up to the favourites remains to be seen.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.25pm
“He’s a work in progress and we’re still dabbling with his gear. He’s actually a naturally good-gaited horse, like all the American Ideals, but he’s going through a stage of not really knowing why he’s out there. You just don’t know when he’ll click but three is an ideal draw for him and he should be handy if he does things right.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
9.20pm
“He’s an under-rated horse, as good as those others who are higher rated. He’s proving to be a tidy horse and, while he’s not viewed as a serious player by some, I think he is. He was closing off really well last week behind Hugotastic.”
