Sir Tiger and Billy Lincoln give Al great shot at opening double at Albion Park on Friday
By Barry Lichter • 23 October 2019
Both Sir Tiger and Billy Lincoln look winners on paper at Albion Park on Friday but trainer Al Barnes says they’ll still have to earn it.
Both horses were beaten as hot favourites at their last starts, Sir Tiger dead unlucky when unable to find a gap in the run home and Billy Lincoln going under by a head at the unbackable odds of $1.08.
Sir Tiger opens the batting on Friday in the first race, which Barnes says looks a weaker field than the one he beat at his Queensland debut.
Sir Tiger, arrowed, is blocked and full of running at the finish.And this time, while still on the second row, Sir Tiger is at least in the running line, compared with his last start tragedy when, from the inside of the second row, driver Hayden Barnes never had the opportunity to work into the clear and went to the line hard held in fifth place.
“Hayden said he was travelling easily but he’d have had to knock one over to get out so there was no point in that.
“He’s going to be a $1.20 shot but it’s not just a question of going out and winning. He should win but it’s an even-looking race and he’ll have to earn it.”
Barnes says it helps that people know his New Zealand horses have a bit of quality so they give them respect.
“When Hayden goes round and asserts his authority nine times out of 10 they’d rather sit on his back then try to hold him out.”
Billy Lincoln goes down by a head to Saint Kilda Beach.Barnes says he’ll leave it up to Hayden to decide how best to drive Billy Lincoln in the second race but over only 1660 metres letting him settle early from the second row, then sending him, would make him hard to beat.
“But he may elect to drive him as a sit-sprinter and see what he can do.”
In each of his three runs in Brisbane, Barnes has taken Billy Lincoln to the front and, even though collared last time, he still improved on his previous time, clocking his third and fourth quarters in 28 flat.
“I was a bit disappointed at first, I thought Hayden should have got on his bike and kicked when his only rival (Saint Kilda Beach) was coming four wide. But he did run a PB and he’s never gone quicker than 56 for his last half before so maybe that’s as good as he can go for now. We know he’s a work in progress.”
Barnes says it will be interesting to see what Billy can do if Hayden chooses to follow his rivals through from two on the second line, drive him in behind, and mount a late challenge.
“He should go close either way but he’s six months away from being a racehorse.”
Sir Tiger races at 3.29pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.
Billy Lincoln races at 4.04pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.
More news in Harness
Lincoln Wave scorches in, still on target for richer races and Sammy’s making progress too
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
