
Sir Tiger (Hayden Barnes) never raised a sweat when winning on debut in Queensland.
From the second row, Sir Tiger will sit coiled up on the markers, waiting for his chance
Sir Tiger will be driven quietly at Albion Park on Friday night, his chances completely dependent on what the pole runner does.
Drawn the inside of the second row, trainer Al Barnes says Sir Tiger will simply poke up the fence and take his chances late.
“He’ll be in a good spot, either behind the leader or three fence, but either way he should earn a cheque, we just don’t know what colour.”
Barnes is hoping Special Reserve, “the best horse in the race” holds the front as he says he can’t see a lot of speed.
That would put Sir Tiger in the trail with a good chance to run the leader down. Three deep and he could be in trouble as he lacks a yard of high speed.
“Special Reserve is an honest bread and butter horse and he’ll be hard to beat, especially if it ends up being just a dash up the lane.”
Barnes says Sir Tiger has had a couple of fast runs in training this week to make up for the quiet previous week when he was super fresh.
He will still parade a little fresh through missing last week’s race, when the meeting was abandoned after heavy rain left the track unnegotiable for the mobile barrier car.
“We over-trained him the previous week when he was beaten in the Pot Of Gold Final,” Barnes said, acknowledging they were still learning about their new recruit.
Sir Tiger endured a torrid run that day, three wide for the first 600 metres from the second row, before looping the field (with cover) to sit parked, the effort telling up the stretch when he weakened to sixth.
Sir Tiger kicked off his Queensland campaign before that with an easy 1:56.6 mile rate win over 1660 metres.
It is 16 months since the Grant Dixon-trained Special Reserve won a race at Albion Park and, while a consistent place getter, he has had nine starts since his last win at Redcliffe.
Sir Tiger races at 12.42pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
More news in Harness
Fergie takes the initiative and Onyx Shard delivers again for the galloping buddies
Near triple dead-heat shows rookie improving but Fergie tips Leo, in blinds, is Tuesday’s best
Leo Lincoln close to a win: Watch how he copped it early last time at Manawatu
Consisent little Lincoln Lou sold to Western Australia to join fellow ex-Kiwis
Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
Sugar Ray Lincoln, Im Not The Maid, Debbie Lincoln (scratched), Lincoln La Moose, Lincoln Linda, Angelic Copy.
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Fergie tips
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 1: What’s Up The Hill
4.14pm
“That was a big improvement on Sunday and I thought he’d won. I suggested they put a loose headcheck on him after his last start and that definitely helped. He’ll be a chance again on Tuesday, as long as he backs up, and he seemed pretty relaxed after the race.”
Race 2: Leo Lincoln
4.39pm
“Blinkers go on this time and, from one, it looks to be his best chance. I’ll be coming out fast and trying to lead and the way he felt on the first day, and with the make-up of the field, I think he can. It’s taken a few runs to get him sharper this time in, he’s been a bit lacklustre, but he’s ready to go now.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“She might have run only fourth on the first day but went massive really. If she can just be one place closer in the running, she would go close.”