Al’s bullish $4 tip very nearly comes unstuck as Larry resents being chased
By Barry Lichter • 23 October 2020
Trainer Al Barnes’ confident tip that Larry Lincoln was all over a winner at Albion Park tonight proved spot on - but not before the horse gave driver Hayden Barnes quite a fright.
To Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, watching from Auckland, it all seemed to go perfectly to plan. The horse was able to secure the trail without using any petrol and he sprinted too fast for his rivals up the home straight.
But little did they know that for one horrible moment Larry’s driver felt the horse go from “bolting to nothing.”
“The horse was travelling great when Hayden angled to the inside but when he pulled the hood and slapped him on the bum, he didn’t want to go,” said Al Barnes.
“When Hayden chased him he resented it and jammed his tail. He just didn’t sprint like we know he can. He dogged it a little.”
Larry Lincoln scoots up the inside to nail Its Super Easy.Luckily the horse Larry Lincoln was chasing was former Lincoln Farms giant Its Super Easy, who obviously couldn’t find the queue when speed was being handed out.
“Its Super Easy doesn’t have speed but he may have more heart than us - he’s tough and just keeps plugging. Who knows, if it had been further than a mile he might have beaten us.”
Barnes says he keeps learning little things about Larry Lincoln, who joined his stable only in September.
“Next time we’ll sit quiet on him. We won’t hit him on the bum and we won’t pull the plugs.
“His heart rate was still high tonight at 100, but it was better than the previous week so he’s improving. We’ll see how he pulls up next week.”
Barnes, who declared the horse a winner after super trackwork during the week, and was surprised by his $4 dividend, says he was convinced Larry was a class better than his rivals tonight.
And while the margin was only a head in the end, because of the home straight hiccup, he believes there’s more in store for the horse.
The plan not to gas Larry out of the gate or drive him too aggressively seemed to have worked, Barnes said.
Larry clocked 2:01.2 for the 1660 metres, a mile rate of 1:57.5, with the closing sectionals in 56.8 and 28.1.
More news in Harness
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Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
