Man Of Action has gate speed but won’t try to cross the pole runner on Saturday night. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Rain stalls Man Of Action again so Saturday night at Albion Park is a watch only race
By Barry Lichter • 9 April 2021
If you extrapolated Man Of Action’s 8765 form line, you’d think he might run fourth at Albion Park on Saturday night.
And if he manages that, trainer Al Barnes says he’ll be very happy as the horse is still not quite at peak fitness.
“He’s improving with every run but he’ll still need the hit-out as he missed fast work on Tuesday. It rained all day Monday and Tuesday - we must have had another 100ml.”
Barnes says whereas Man Of Action’s health was originally the hold-up - he failed to handle the very high temperatures - for the last two weeks it’s been rain which has been the problem.
“We’ve had a ridiculous amount of rain and our little 650 metre track got flooded.”
Barnes says once he can train and race Man Of Action consistently he’s sure he’ll recapture his form.
“I’ve found when we can train them over two strong trips on Tuesday and Thursday and race on the Saturday it’s enough to keep them fit.
On a rain drenched Redcliffe track, Man Of Action, outer, finishes on strongly for Hayden Barnes to feature in the minor money.“But Man Of Action didn’t quite run out his second 2400 metre trip on Thursday so he’ll be in need of the race. He won’t be any worse than last week but he won’t be any better.”
At Redcliffe last Thursday, on a very rain-affected track, Man Of Action settled three back in the running line but was last at the 400 then forced four and five wide round the home bend.
His finishing burst was the best in the field and even though he ran only fifth, 11.9 metres from Bettathanideal, his closing 800 and 400 splits of 57.62 and 29.06 were second only to the winner.
“He should land in a good position from two on Saturday night,” says Barnes. “He’ll hold his position out of the gate but he won’t be able to cross the one (Ifoundthebeach) so we’ll conserve his energy for the last 400 metres.”
Man Of Action races at 8.41pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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.”
