Vasari and Hayden Barnes demolish their rivals at Redcliffe nine days ago. PHOTO: Michael McInally.
Vasari can run a hole but Hayden won’t beat Brendan, says dad of Saturday night’s race
By Barry Lichter • 2 August 2019
Vasari won’t be winning at Albion Park on Saturday night but he’s drawn in the right place to place, says trainer Al Barnes.
The last-start Redcliffe winner has drawn the inside of the second row, at first glance a bad place for a horse who likes to roll.
But with pole runner Thatswhatisaid the leader and almost certain winner, Barnes is hoping Vasari can find enough early gate speed to hold his back or at least run three deep on the markers.
“Either way he should earn a cheque. If he trails all the way he can run a close second to Thatswhatisaid but he won’t beat him. He’s a very nice horse who hasn’t had much luck lately.”
Al Barnes with son Brendan who drives hotpot Thatswhatisaid against Vasari on Saturday night.Barnes knows the form of Jack Butler’s horse well, with his son Brendan the regular pilot.
With older son Hayden on Vasari, Barnes is hoping for a family affair at the wire but says his own horse is a real trick to drive.
“If Hayden fires him up, he won’t be able to stop him. You’ve got to keep him happy and not fight him.
“That makes it hard because I have to try to place him in races where we can do that. You can’t drive him aggressively at Albion Park because they don’t let you go and you have to kill him early if you shoot for the front.”
Barnes reports Vasari is feeling super after his Redcliffe win nine days ago when he went within three tenths of a second of the track record with his 1:55.2 mile rate for 1780 metres.
But Thatswhatisaid will be going a lot faster than that on Saturday night. A Menangle mile winner in 1:51.4, he couldn’t work clear last time but showed in his first two runs in the state that he would thrive with a win and second.
Vasari might be having his 84th start on Satrurday night but he continues to be a regular money spinner for Lincoln Farms and its partners Ian Middleton, Rod and Sue Fleming and Peter Jeffares.
He was the fourth highest money winner for Lincoln Farms in the season just ended with $34,759 in stakes, behind Make Way, Northview Hustler and Trojan Banner.
Vasari runs at 7.43pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday 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.”
