Billy Lincoln bowling along in the lead for Hayden Barnes in his Queensland debut win last week. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Tiger should win from the outside, Billy can too, but he will have to earn it from the back
By Barry Lichter • 2 October 2019
Sir Tiger might have drawn the outside of the gate but he should still be too strong for his rivals at Albion Park on Friday night.
That’s trainer Al Barnes’ simple assessment of the $11,000 Pot Of Gold Final for which Sir Tiger is favourite after his impressive Queensland debut win last week.
“He’s improved in leaps and bounds since his last race and should just be too good for them.”
Sir Tiger went into last week’s heat well underdone after a training hiccup when he kicked out and ended up with a huge haematoma high up inside his leg.
Sir Tiger bolts away from his rivals in last week’s heat.And while he easily put away his rivals with a 7 metre win in 1:55.6, Barnes could tell by his post race heart rate of 101 that he was well off being fully fit.
On Friday night he believes the race sets up nicely for Sir Tiger as he can see Narissa McMullen charging out on Betterthanspraying and setting a genuine tempo.
“I don’t know what Tiger’s gate speed is like and how safe he is but Hayden will find out.
“He can come out, balance, and progress forward after a couple of hundred metres and roll to the chair.”
From there, says Barnes, Sir Tiger should have the stamina to beat them.
Sir Tiger will also be better geared up this week with a pole to help keep him straight.
Poor draw for Billy on Thursday
Billy Lincoln, who also scored easily in his first Brisbane race last week, lines up again on Thursday, drawn the inside of the second row in the opening race at 2.50pm.
On paper it looks a poor line-up but Barnes says sometimes that can make it harder to win from the back row, especially over only a mile with a pacemaker like Datsgood drawn to lead and capable of running 1:56.
“Billy will have to go back to last and circle them and you only need one to gallop in your face and you’re in trouble.
“It will be a test for him, he’ll have to earn it and do a bit of work, and he’s still not a racehorse yet. He’s very green and has a lot of learning to do so it will be interesting to see what he can do.
“But he would have taken a lot of confidence out of his win.”
Billy Lincoln made short work of his rivals last week, pressing forward to lead and cruising home by 9.7 metres, closing in 58.2 and 28.6 to record a mile rate of 1:58.7 for the 2138 metres.
“I don’t think the drop back to a mile helps him but ability-wise it’s not a great field.”
Billy Lincoln races at Albion Park at 2.50pm NZ time on Thursday.
Sir Tiger races at 8.12pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
More news in Harness
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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.”
