Al adopts new silks to help us follow Brisbane team - and guess what, they’re green!
By Barry Lichter • 22 May 2019
Lincoln Farms’ owners will soon find it easier to follow their horses in Queensland with trainer Al Barnes adopting a new set of colours for the Kiwi horses.
When Lincoln’s Girl and Vasari race at Albion Park on Friday night they will be sporting Barnes’ black colours with a white, red and yellow sash.
But Barnes figures few of the horses’ owners are familiar with his garb so in future that pair, plus hi-flyers Northview Hustler and Trojan Banner, will carry Lincoln Farms’ familiar bottle green.
But Barnes has a new twist on the theme, adding the words Lincoln Farms in white to the colours which he hopes will feature prominently at the upcoming winter carnival.
Barnes says he didn’t want to offend Lincoln Farms’ No. 1 trainer Ray Green by simply copying his colours which have cream cuffs and a cream collar.
“But I thought the new look will help Lincoln Farms’ owners find their horses during a race and it will help advertise Lincoln Farms.’’
Barnes has made a great start training Lincoln Farms’ horses in Queensland with Trojan Banner unbeaten in five starts, Northview Hustler a winner in his only start, and Lincoln’s Girl in the winners’ circle twice.
Barnes is hoping the new silks arrive next week and in the meantime believes Lincoln’s Girl and Vasari are both each way chances on Friday.
Lincoln’s Girl … relying on luck from the second row.“Lincoln’s Girl went super last time - I didn’t know how brave she’d be when I saw her caught in the chair (death seat), but Hayden was very happy with how she went.’’
Unable to cross the pole marker at the start from three, Lincoln’s Girl sat parked throughout the 1660 metres, before taking the lead turning for home.
It was only in the final few metres that the filly was swamped, finishing a nose and 1.3 metres from the winner in a 1:55.1 mile rate.
“It was only the horses that had the drop on us that beat us,’’ says Barnes.
“And we now know if need be she has the stamina to slide round to the chair.’’
Lincoln’s Girl doesn’t have the luxury of being able to gun for the lead on Friday night, and drawn two on the second row will need an ounce of luck to feature.
Barnes believes she’s a top two chance with the breaks but says she only has to finish in the first half of the field to progress to the final of the $10,000 Pot Of Gold event.
“It’s not a bad field but she’s as good as anything else in there.’’
A round from home and Vasari is in trouble, snookered three deep on the markers.Vasari again gets his chance to lead from three on the front in the final race at 7.22pm NZ time.
Barnes hoped Vasari would lead last week in a heat of the Young Drivers’ Championship but thought his driver Taleah McMullen was a little timid at the start.
“She didn’t really chase him out and got caught three deep.’’
That virtually took the horse out of play because Vasari is a one-pacer who can’t accelerate on a dime.
By the time Vasari got out it was too late yet he still closed to within 3 metres and a head of winner Corey William in a sizzling 1:52.4 mile rate.
His closing 800 metres of 55.45 was the second fastest in the race and easily faster than the first two home.
With his son Hayden back in the cart on Friday night, Barnes says Vasari should get out a lot better and have his chance to cross the pole marker Magoogan who can begin smartly.
“The horse is really well and he’ll win one soon. It’s a good line-up but he should run top three.’’
Lincoln’s Girl runs at 2.42pm NZ time on Friday.
Vasari runs at 7.22pm NZ time on Friday.
More news in Harness
The dream’s alive but Nate tells why he’ll wait for ‘Harry’ before racing Eric again
Ray gives reformed Rascal his ‘most likely to succeed’ report from the pole on Friday night
Ray doesn’t pull any punches about Sugar Ray but punters weigh in nonetheless
Partners and pedigree made Johnny Lincoln’s win special - but where was everyone?
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“He didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
