Sir Tiger has been very disappointing since scoring a first-up win in Australia last September.
Al battling to discover why once reliable Sir Tiger’s turned into such a pussy cat
By Barry Lichter • 8 May 2020
Forget Sir Tiger went round at Albion Park last time - an experiment trying the horse in spreaders backfired and he didn’t try a hard.
Having his first start for three months, trainer Al Barnes had been expecting a competitive effort from the horse given he’d run on well in his only trial.
But fitting spreaders in an attempt to prevent the horse from hitting a splint below his knee proved the wrong move.
“Hayden said he hated them. They changed his gait completely and he didn’t try a yard. He was gone at the half mile and they only went 1:56.”
Sir Tiger was struggling to hold the one out-two back possie well before the home turn and finished 39 metres from the winner, beating only one home.
Barnes says Sir Tiger was plenty fit enough to be a factor last week but he’s not expecting the horse to feature tonight, when he starts from the inside of the second row.
But being buried away on the markers might be the best thing for the horse and allow him to run home, without being pressured.
“It’s all about trying to get his confidence back now so he wants to do it.
“He’s happy enough within himself and his nature’s quite good now, we just have to get him to turn the corner.”
Barnes says he’s consulted Sir Tiger’s former trainer, Pukekohe’s Ray Green about his unexpected drop in form.
“Ray says he was the most reliable horse they had at Lincoln Farms but maybe he just hasn’t adapted to our routine.
“Billy Lincoln on the other hand thrived here before we sold him to the States.”
Barnes says he doesn’t know whether the horse was gelded too late but he says with trial and error he still hopes to find the key to him.
Sir Tiger races at 10.03pm NZ time at Albion Park tonight.
More news in Harness
All hail Debbie, the new speed queen of Alex Park, as she tackles a mile from the pole
Ray reaches for the half hopples to keep Whats Up The Hill trotting at Cambridge on Thursday
Debbie Lincoln’s sizzling win has namesake Debbie Green excited about the future
A Moose in his happy place is a fast Moose but programming hurdles lie ahead
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Whats Up The Hill
4.59pm
“Fergie wasn’t exuding praise for him after his last start when he galloped away. But we’ve taken everything off him this time, no half hopples, no fixed deafeners, and that’s the same as when he won at Auckland last prep.”
Race 5: Lincoln La Moose
6.45pm
“The winner had it handed to him last time, when he went only 2:45.9, and that meant he outsprinted our boy with a 56.3 last half. When we won the previous week he went 2:40. He likes to roll along, so it will be tempo dependent. It’s his first go from a stand and only second at 2700 metres so we’ll find out if he likes it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
6.49pm
“We’ve never really tried to leave the gate with her but, from the inside draw, she has the advantage and should lead or trail. You’d have to say on her last run she’s the best chance of our trio.”
Race 3: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.49pm
“He’s thriving and looking very well. He was only just beaten last time and, from two, should get every chance.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
6.49pm
“His closing sectionals were very fast last week and he never goes a bad race. The draw isn’t as desirable, but the small field helps.”
Race 4: Tyson
7.21pm
“He had to do a lot of work last week. You can never count him out because he’s so tough.”
