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
Hubby nearly in the dog box after Tyson delivers Debbie a Golden Gait knockout blow
Debbie lands Golden draw at last in her bid to give Sampson a haircut at the Park
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
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Wednesday at Cambridge
Race 3: Spiritual Bliss
1.10pm
“You can’t fault what she’s done up here and she’s trained on really well since Manawatu. She seems to have a good motor and can carry her speed a long way. It’s a bit of a step-up on Wednesday, and she’s drawn out a bit, but she should be right in the fray.”
Race 4: Lincoln Lover
1.45pm
“It’s a huge drop in class for him on what he’s been racing. The Purdon horse Crippa Max looks the one to beat on his trial but I’m picking we’ll finish in the first three at worst. He’s very honest and does nothing wrong.”
Race 6: Lincoln Downs
2.55pm
“She got skittled early last time when one galloped in front of her, and that didn’t help. It would be nice to see her get a good trip, with no incidents, and see what she can do. She’s no superstar but she tries hard.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
4.31pm
“It’s his first race for more than four months and I’m picking he’ll need the run. It was a toss-up whether we went to the trials, but he’d probably have had no opposition, so it made sense to drop him in here. He’s training well and seems in good shape but whatever he does, he’ll improve on.”
