Sir Tiger ran out a decisive winner on his last last trip to Cambridge. PHOTO: Phil Williams/FokusPhotography.
Tiger’s earned his stripes and he’s ready to pounce again at Cambridge
By Barry Lichter • 31 July 2019
Sir Tiger will strip a lot fitter at Cambridge on Thursday night and looks well placed to open his three-year-old season on a winning note.
Sir Tiger, who with $26,549 in stake earnings was the highest earner of Lincoln Farms’ own two-year-olds in the season just ending, has drawn nicely in three in the sixth race, which looks easier than the field he faced fresh-up at Auckland last Friday night.
In his first run since June 6, when he scored decisively at Cambridge, Sir Tiger enjoyed a sweet trip in the trail. But when he shot up the passing lane to dispute the lead at the 150 metre mark, his run came to an end and he only battled into fourth, 1.6 lengths from the winner Rubens.
Trainer Ray Green had warned he might be short of a run after only two workouts and an easy week, but says he’ll be much sharper on Thursday.
“He definitely needed the run last week, when he didn’t run on as well as he normally does.
“But it looks to be a weaker field this time and he’ll be fitter. He’ll go another good race, like he always does.”
Hampton Banner … bowling along in the lead for driver Zachary Butcher.Green is also expecting a good debut from Hampton Banner courtesy of his pole position in the fourth race.
“He’s well placed to get a good trip - there’s nothing wonderful in his race and I’m sure he’ll go well.
“He’s gone from nothing to a racehorse virtually overnight but being by Bettor’s Delight you don’t really know what you’ve got until you line them up - they seem to grow another leg at the races.”
Hampton Banner wasn’t good enough to foot it with his two-year-old stablemates on his first prep but in the last couple of months has really improved.
He won his second workout back, working to the lead soon after the start and easily holding on.
And when he trialled the following week, he stuck to pacemaker Mighty Looee all the way, that horse franking the form when winning at Alexandra Park six days later.
He was solid again at last Saturday’s Pukekohe workouts, finishing fourth but only two and a half lengths behind Johnson Step.
Hampton Banner, a brother to six-race winner Scarlet Banner, has shown enough gate speed to hold his position early and could end up with a perfect trip on Thursday night.
His main rival could be Ocean Beach who looked ready to atone for his disappointing first run in the north when leading all the way at the workouts last Saturday.
More news in Harness
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Onyx Shard can keep the ball rolling for Ray and Nathan at Manawatu on Tuesday
Ray and Debbie both in the money at the Park with speedy ‘Frisky’ and precocious ‘Angela’
What’s Up with the trotter? - Ray ‘guilty’ of being very optimistic for debut on Friday night
Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
Kevin Kline, What’s Up The Hill, Sugar Ray Lincoln, Lincoln Lou, Debbie Lincoln, Colonel Lincoln, Frisco Bay.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
6.07pm
“He didn’t go very well in his workout right-handed last Thursday but he was good on Saturday when we trained him left-handed. It’s his first race for three months so he could possibly need it but we’re talking Manawatu opposition.”
Race 7: Onyx Shard
7.01pm
“She’s absolutely a winning chance. She showed that last time when she had to do a fair bit to hold the lead. Fergie is driving her this time and we’re pretty confident she’ll go well. She’s such a well-gaited mare.”
Race 8: Lincoln La Moose
7.25pm
“He dominated them last time from the outside of the gate and, even though he can be in and out, he’ll be hard to beat again. That easier opposition makes a difference when there’s nothing good enough to eye-ball you. “
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
6.50pm
“He was very unlucky on night one. The gap sort of opened up then closed again and I had to take hold. He was still charging to the line and if the gap had come he would have been right there with the winner. If he can step and lead, then slot into the trail, he should be a winning chance.”
Race 6: Onyx Shard
7.17pm
“Ferg said she wasn’t on the bit the whole way on Tuesday, was too relaxed. We’ll take the block blinds off this time and put half blinds on and see if that helps. She had to do a bit of work in the run on Tuesday but it doesn’t seem to have knocked her around. The outside draw makes it harder.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
7.39pm
“He looks our best chance of the night. He’s definitely a different horse down here and he obviously likes it in front. Ferg didn’t pull the plugs the other night and that tells you something. He’s doing everything right, I can’t fault him.”
