Vasari blows them off the racetrack to credit Al and Hayden with a great double in Brisbane
By Barry Lichter • 24 May 2019
Vasari notched a great double for trainer Al Barnes, his driver son Hayden and Lincoln Farms when he blew his rivals off the racetrack with a 1:52 mile rate win at Albion Park tonight.
But while thrilled with the supersonic win, which saw the stable bookend the Brisbane card after taking the opening race with Lincoln’s Girl, Barnes was disappointed that his son was subjected to some snide comments from a few other drivers as he left the track on Vasari after his 17.6 metre all-the-way win.
“As soon as you start winning people get jealous and think you’re using something you shouldn’t but I can say on my kids’ lives we’re not. We just put the effort in - we work hard, all day every day.
“Anyone can train good horses and this success is very unusual for us. We’re blown away by it to be honest. But Lincoln Farms has given us some quality horses to train and they’re doing the job.’’
It’s the second time Barnes has trained a double for Lincoln Farms since Trojan Banner and Lincoln’s Girl first arrived at his Marburg stables in February. And now, with Northview Hustler, who won the Flashing Red on his Queensland debut last week, and Vasari, Barnes’ tally of winners for Lincoln Farms is 10.
Barnes says the only real change he’s made since Vasari arrived from Sydney in fantastic condition a few weeks ago is to change his shoes, with rubber bonded on to aluminium to reduce the concussion.
“Ray Green gave me the heads up that they used to work on his feet and knees because he pounds the ground so hard.
It’s Vasari first, the rest nowhere, as he flies to a 1:52 mile rate win at Albion Park.“This horse just loves to run. He has a ton of speed and a ton of heart.’’
Vasari certainly showed that tonight when Hayden Barnes drove him out to find the lead, going through the first two quarters of the 1660 metre race in 27.7 and 29.6.
And it was then that, in Barnes’ words, “he broke their hearts” with a 26.4 third quarter.
“Not many horses can run 26.4 and I reckon if Hayden had given him a flick on the bum he might have gone 25.8.
“Hayden knew he’d run out a strong mile and the pleasing thing was he didn’t use everything in the third quarter, he was still able to run home in 28.4. He’s tough and he just keeps going. I can see why he holds that Cambridge track record (in March, 2016 Vasari clocked 2:01.99 for 1700 metres, a mark which still stands).’’
Barnes says while class records aren’t listed in Brisbane he can’t recall a c3 horse going as fast as 1:52. By comparison the allcomers’ record is held by former champion I’m Themightyquinn at 1:50.4.
Barnes says he will just continue to take Vasari through his grades. “He’s too lowly assessed to get into decent races. But there are plenty of options for him as a class four horse.’’
He might even look at a 1700 metre race at Redcliffe next Friday when, by using a junior, he can get into a c3 event.
More news in Harness
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Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
