Consistent Sir Tiger has drawn best of Lincoln Farms’ three runners on Friday night.
Sir Tiger needs to show his claws to justify flight south - and he has the draw to do it
By Barry Lichter • 8 May 2019
Sir Tiger has the right draw at Auckland on Friday night to make his mark before heading south to Christchurch next week.
The tradesman-like colt has drawn best of Lincoln Farms’ trio in the third race and from four on the gate has only three lesser performed fillies inside him.
Trainer Ray Green says Sir Tiger will need to put up his hand to justify getting on a flight south early next week where is qualified to run in the $170,000 Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington on Friday week. Sir Tiger is also ninth in the rankings for the $150,000 Two-Year-Old Emerald at the Harness Jewels on June 1.
“He doesn’t have to win but he’ll need to go a good race and pull up well.’’
Sir Lincoln colt Sir Tiger has placed in four of his eight starts, the latest at Cambridge on April 18 when he led, then trailed, before sprint laneing for second to Bad To The Bone in a Sires’ Stakes heat.
He looked hard fit last Saturday at the Pukekohe workouts when fourth to stablemate Copy That, staying hard on his back in the run home.
Copy That hasn’t raced for three months but showed again in that workout that he has the speed to handle Friday’s opposition.
And afterwards, driver Zachary Butcher said he thought the horse felt like he was ready to go close in a race.
With Butcher driving at Addington on Friday night, along with Tony Herlihy who handled the colt in his first two races, James Stormont will do the pinch hitting this time.
And while Copy That was drawn badly in seven, Green says that will allow Stormont to nurse him out, and stay out of trouble.
‘It won’t hurt him being a bit wide. We just need to see him get round safely but the ability is certainly there and all he needs is a good trip to go well.’’
Double Or Nothing stretching out well in a recent workout at Pukekohe.Green says Double Or Nothing is also tight enough to feature given the breaks from the inside of the second row.
The Sweet Lou gelding hasn’t raced since running fourth behind stablemate Line Up in a Young Guns heat on February 8, when regular driver David Butcher recommended he be turned out to strengthen up.
“He seems to have got stronger,’’ says Green.
“He’ll obviously be better with the run but he’s good enough anyway to do something and David knows him well.’’
Double Or Nothing mounted a strong run from last on the corner in a workout at Pukekohe last Saturday, and while four of Friday night’s rivals beat him home, driver Andre Poutama was very happy with how he felt.
The previous Saturday he had a more searching workout when he led before finishing second to one of the favourites for Friday night’s race, Infatuation.
Lincoln Farms’ only other runner on Friday night is Governor’s Bay in the sixth race where he has drawn well in three.
But the horse wasn’t able to keep up with the early burn from four last week when he got back, tried to improve four wide turning in, then hung in badly halfway down the straight, finishing sixth.
He meets another strong intermediate grade field on Friday night and would need to stay handy to the pace to be any chance.
More news in Harness
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
