Al confident with Larry Lincoln but the draw takes Hustler out of play on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 5 February 2021
With a wide barrier draw taking Northview Hustler out of play at Albion Park on Saturday night, Lincoln Farms will be looking to Larry Lincoln to fly the flag - and trainer Al Barnes is very confident he’ll do it admirably.
Larry Lincoln doesn’t have the best form line in the third race but it doesn’t reflect the enormity of his last start run.
Sent forward soon after the start from a wide draw, driver Hayden Barnes was left stranded three wide when the parked horse kicked up and he had no option but to go all the way back to last.
To see the horse then sprint fast up the inside in the home straight, only to run into a brick wall, came as quite a surprise to his trainer.
Larry Lincoln (red hood) is hard on the leaders’ backs with nowhere to go .“Hayden said he was bolting and he would have won for fun if he’d got out. If he runs up to that form I’m very confident he can win on Saturday.”
Barnes said his son quite rightly decided not to put his foot down when denied the chair.
“Given the work he did early anyway it was great to see him finish like that.”
Larry Lincoln was doing handstands in behind the placegetters, finishing fifth but only 4.4 metres from winner Ice Pick Angie. His closing sectionals of 54.7 and 27.47 were the fastest in the race.
“Nothing in that field on Saturday will run those times and even though his form has slipped a little he should get a lot of respect back now. He can bounce straight back and show them what he can do on Saturday night.
“Two the second row is a good draw for him to sit handy and it’s a good stake.”
The A$14,000 purse - about A$7800 to the winner - is only $1000 less than the main pace, but Barnes isn’t thinking he can get any more than the dregs with Northview Hustler drawn six in the opener.
“The field is drawn on ratings and unfortunately six puts us out of the race.
“From an inside draw he can hold his own - he can leave the gate on the bit - but if he’s out wide and you’ve got to chase him to cross and put one on his bum he just doesn’t finish his races off.
“He’ll go back and we’ll save him for one sprint so he runs on.”
Barnes says Hustler can’t threaten the two favourites Turn It Up and Colt Thirty One who dominate the betting and will probably end up leading and breezing.
Northview Hustler races at 8.11pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Larry Lincoln races at 9.15pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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.”
