Billy’s shows he’s getting there with gutsy win and Tiger can too but he’s in for the unkind cut
By Barry Lichter • 25 October 2019
Billy Lincoln showed he was turning into a racehorse with a gutsy win at Albion Park today but trainer Al Barnes reckons Sir Tiger might need a major ‘gear’ change after he could finish only second.
“Billy certainly showed a bit of heart today,” said Barnes after the Bettor’s Delight three-year-old was headed early in the run home but fought back courageously to claim a half head win over Gold Reactor.
The Barnes boys fight it out with Hayden on Billy Lincoln outgunning Brendan on Gold Reactor.It was an all Barnes’ affair with one son Hayden driving vigorously on Billy Lincoln and the other, Brendan, giving Gold Reactor everything in the drive to the line.
“Billy is learning, one minute Hayden said he thought the horse was cruising, then he had to knuckle down and he tried really hard. Up ’til now he’s got a bit lost and not shown much fight.”
That said, today’s win took the gelding’s record to three wins and a close second from only four starts, a great start to his Queensland career.
After taking up an early one-one trail, Barnes wasted no time in zooming round to lead at the bell, showing tactical speed which his trainer says will stand him in good stead in the future. He nipped home in 56.8 and 28.1 to record a mile rate of 1:55.5 for the 1660 metres.
“You’ve got to go to the front when you can in these races but now I want to try him from behind. I think he’ll show more high speed and be a bit stronger driving him with a sit. He seems to try harder when he’s chasing.”
Sir Tiger goes down as a $1.40 favourite to Laughing Emoji who stole a march at the 400.Barnes is keen to get Sir Tiger trying harder too, not that he was disgraced today, chasing after Laughing Emoji who stole a march on the home turn, and getting within 4.7 metres at the post.
“I was happy enough with the way he went. They got home in 55.6 and 27.8 and there’s nothing wrong with a three-year-old running those sectionals. The leader also had a good trip and we did all the chasing.
“He also pulled up a bit big, so he needed it, and they clocked 1:54.3.
“But he’s doing a few things wrong and I want to geld him, I think it will make him a completely different horse and get him concentrating.
“They’re shutting down Albion Park for two or three weeks while they resurface it, and racing at Redcliffe, so now’s a good time to do it.”
More news in Harness
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Sugar Ray signals start of good year ahead with tough win; blinkers for Lincoln Wave
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Ray: Sammy Lincoln has ‘turned the corner’ and can go on with it on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Angelic Copy
4.53pm
“She’s done everything right and trialled really nicely. I think she’s forward enough to give some cheek. She’s only small. You like to think when you get a good two-year-old like her that they’ll get stronger and transition into a nice three-year-old but she hasn’t grown an inch. But she tries hard and enjoys being out there.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.28pm
“I’m looking forward to seeing him. You never really know ’til you get to the races but he’s trialled well enough to start and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went a good race, despite the draw. He’s a nice sensible colt who’s done nothing wrong and he could develop into a really nice three-year-old.”
Race 6: Lincoln Wave
7.22pm
“He was starting to get into the habit of switching off so we trained him in blinds this week and he went pretty well. He was good from a standing start at the trials with shorteners in and Maurice was actually quite bullish about his standing start manners and thinks that, in time, he’ll end up being a quick beginner. If he steps well, and can land in the first one or two, he’ll definitely be hard to get round.”
Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.22pm
“He’s not spectacular from a stand but he will get away, albeit sometimes a bit slowly. Lincoln Wave has more speed than him but if it comes down to a slugfest he’d be too strong as he’s rock hard fit.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.23pm
“The blinds go back on this week and if he steps and leads like he did three starts ago that would make him the one to beat. He showed with that win that he’s above average and will be a serious chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.23pm
“You could argue she’s a Cambridge horse but sometimes when you throw them in with the bear cats they lift their game and I thought she was really good here last week. Tony (Cameron) said she’d have finished a bit closer too if he hadn’t had to take hold of her close to home (when he ran out of room and hit a marker pole).”
Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.23pm
“We’ve got blinds on him this week. Harry said he lost concentration a couple of times last week, including at the top of the straight, and thought he’d be a bit more on to it with blinds on. I still thought his was the run of the race last time - none of the others could have done what he did - and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him score.”
