Man Of Action (4) in his October win at Albion Park. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
We won’t see too much action from Man Of Action on Tuesday but he’s come back better
By Barry Lichter • 1 March 2021
Trainer Al Barnes isn’t expecting too much from Man Of Action when he resumes from a two month break at Albion Park on Tuesday.
Drawn the outside of the gate in the sixth race, Man Of Action will be driven quietly, says Barnes.
“He’ll go back and his trial was good enough to say he’ll run on into the top four.”
Man Of Action finished a head second in his 1660 metre trial on February 23, left in front after the leader galloped at the 400 and run down in the last stride by Jive.
“He’s had a good break and has come back a lot bigger and stronger.
“But I’d like to get him healthier in the coat. The Queensland heat has really dried him out.”
Man Of Action started his Queensland campaign last September in fine style with two seconds and a win and he was only once out of the first five in his first eight starts.
But Barnes says the horse was cooked one night when he had a really hard run and consequently raced flat through December before he was spelled.
“He’s a good bread and butter horse who will be better for the break but Tuesday’s race will be more like a trial for him.
“The two horse (Moresco) will lead and bowl along and the five (Bettathanideal) goes nicely so it’s hard to see him beating them but he’s good enough to run on and be in the money.”
Man Of Action, who has a career record of three wins and 11 placings from 32 starts, is raced by Lincoln Farms owners John and Lynne Street and a host of partners including Steve Beckett, Kevin Bell, Michael Brereton, Marilyn Brown, Margaret Rabbitt, the Green Machine Racing Syndicate, the Athenry Syndicate and the Chisso’s and Wack Syndicate.
Man Of Action races at 7.22pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
More news in Harness
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Bang! Lincoln Wave’s tyre blows out, startling rival drivers but Alabar win would shock more
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
