Double up on Double Or Nothing on Friday night - he’ll enjoy a decent drop in grade
By Barry Lichter • 13 February 2020
Double Or Nothing might have drawn the outside of the gate at Albion Park on Friday but, dropping in grade, he is the one to beat.
You might have expected Double Or Nothing to have felt two hard runs in a week, when he was placed both times in 1:53.4 mile rate races, but trainer Al Barnes says the horse has been right on top of his game this week.
“The runs seem to have sharpened him up and he may just be too strong for them on Friday.
“It’s a nice little race for him. I”m not sure if he’ll lead - Hayden may have to park out - but we’re both confident he’d be OK breezing.”
Double Or Nothing is strong to the line, running third last Saturday night in a fast-run 1:53.4 mile rate.Barnes says if Double Or Nothing makes the front - and he may have earned enough respect now to get there - he can’t see anything being able to sit outside him on a 1:53 rate and beat him.
“He does have ability and tried really hard in both his races last week.”
Last Tuesday Double Or Nothing led and was swamped in the last couple of strides, going under by a neck. And last Saturday, after being four wide into the first bend, Hayden Barnes landed a one-one trip, challenged three wide turning in and finished on strongly to go down by just 3.3 metres.
Double Or Nothing’s recent times have been much faster than his rivals - last start winner Sir Jujon clocked only a mile rate of 1:55.1 and Whitehaven Lass’ recent win was only in 1:57.6.
At 65, he is rated five points better than the next in the field, Callmedemaro, who has won only three of his 42 career starts, and Soulwriter who has won only one of his last 29 starts - at Redcliffe.
Double Or Nothing races at 3.42pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.
More news in Harness
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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.”
