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
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
