Double Or Nothing is off to Queensland tomorrow where he will need that nose flap which protects his white face from the sun.
See ya Louie, but make sure you slip, slop, slap in that harsh Queensland sun
By Barry Lichter • 16 December 2019
Capable three-year-old Double Or Nothing will be on a flight to Brisbane on Tuesday to continue his career under the wing of Marburg trainer Al Barnes.
And Barnes says he can’t wait to get his hands on the consistent Sweet Lou gelding whom he has watched competing in New Zealand for some time.
“I’m looking forward to it,” says Barnes. “He could be a real surprise packet. On form I reckon he could be better than Trojan Banner.”
Barnes took over Trojan Banner as a three-win horse in January and the little colt went on to win seven races straight before his sale to the United States.
“There are a few handy three-year-olds up here but I’d say Double Or Nothing would be one of the better ones, in the top three or four.”
Barnes is keen to try driving Double Or Nothing cold “to use his speed at the back end of his races, rather than the front.
“He’s tended to paddle over the last 100 metres but we’ll try driving him with one run, and I’ll try to train him to keep him fresh.”
Double Or Nothing, pictured scoring at Cambridge, has high speed but lacks the strength to compete against the best here.Trainer Ray Green believes Double Or Nothing, whose stable name is Louie, will win plenty of races in Brisbane where he will enjoy the big drop in class, similar to the scenario with Billy Lincoln who was poor here but racked up three wins and three seconds from seven starts in Brisbane before his sale to the States.
“Compared with Billy Lincoln, Double Or Nothing is like a Grand Circuit horse. He has good ability and is fast enough but he’s not strong enough to be a serious racehorse - he doesn’t seem to be able to finish his races off.
“And when we threw him in the deep end it was too tough for him. He may get stronger with time of course.”
In all, Double Or Nothing raced 20 times here for two wins and 11 placings, banking a very respectable $40,275 in stakes.
While unable to win at two, he earned $18,260 from nine starts, never finishing further back than fourth.
And he quickly found the winner’s circle at three, scoring a double at Auckland and Cambridge in September and October.
Double Or Nothing is raced by Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street along with Neville McAlister, Rod and Sue Fleming, who raced Vasari, and Bob Best who has enjoyed success in Australia with Trojan Banner and Make Way.
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
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.”
