Second row draws make it harder but Man Of Action and Larry Lincoln can earn cheques
Man Of Action and Larry Lincoln have both drawn the second row at Albion Park on Tuesday but trainer Al Barnes still labels them good each way chances.
Man Of Action is on the quick back-up after running a brave third last Thursday when he sat parked on a 1:54.4 mile rate and was still punching at the line.
The consistent gelding finished only 4.7 metres from winner Notorious, running good closing sectionals of 55.89 and 27.86.
“He’s pretty tough,” says Barnes. “He’ll handle as much as we throw at him.
“It’s a pretty even field but he’s up to those horses. He shouldn’t be too far off them when they settle and will be running on.
“If they get a little luck both he and Larry Lincoln could bob up and win.”
Larry Lincoln, who humbled a rating 51 to 55 field last week, starts one race later in a 53 to 60 race, the sole runner on the second line with the early defection of Jay Dee Be Rollin.
Larry Lincoln scored his third win from only five starts in Queensland on October 30, driver Hayden Barnes gradually working his way to the lead before sprinting clear in the home stretch.
He looked to have plenty in reserve in clocking a 1:54.1 mile rate, seven metres clear of his nearest rival.
Barnes says having discovered Larry is best driven more quietly, his son Hayden was likely to come off the markers and bide his time.
“There’s a bit of speed in the race, with quite a few go-forward horses, so they’ll be running.
“It’s a very even race. Rocks Or Diamonds is flying and Remember Me Now is going better than his form reads but Larry will be competitive and I think he can earn a cheque. He’s going really well and keeps improving.
“I think he’ll be close enough to come with one closing shot at them.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 9: Kevin Kline
9.55pm
“When Maurice asked him to go at the top of the straight at Cambridge he got lost and didn’t quite know what to do. He wound up well in the end but just left it a little late. He’ll learn from that and should go well again.”
Race 10: Debbie Lincoln
10.22pm
“She has ability but she’s a work in progress. She’s fast but she needs to harness it. She gets a little claustrophobic when they come around her so the mission on Friday will be to get round without her doing anything stupid. She’s a much stronger individual now than when she started off in April.”