Vasari and driver Hayden Barnes enjoying a moment in the sun before training at Al Barnes’ Marburg stable.
Wakey, wakey Vasari! The hood’s back on and he should be in business on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 8 May 2019
Vasari, hood reattached, will be much sharper for his second run in Queensland on Friday night.
And, drawn three in the opening race at 8.23pm NZ time, trainer Al Barnes is hoping he can cross to the lead and be hard to run down.
Vasari didn’t wear a hood in his first race since transferring north from Sydney last week but while it had the desired effect of quietening him down, it left him completely disinterested.
“We noticed he was pulling quite hard in Sydney and thought he’d go better if we could get him more settled,’’ says Barnes.
“But without the hood he didn’t want to go at all, he’s very lazy.’’
Vasari, pulled back from his extreme outside draw, consequently lost interest and was being tapped up by driver Hayden Barnes to even stay within three lengths of the second last horse a round from home.
Vasari actually paced 57.66 for his last 800 metres, the fastest in the race and on the entire day, making up 23.5 metres on the leaders, but he still finished only seventh, 13 metres from the winner.
“It’s trial and error with him but the hood will sharpen him up again and hopefully he can lead and run a race.’’
Vasari, winner of 12 races, has always been at his best in front, or on the speed, when he is hard to get past.
And Barnes says the way the horse has felt in work this week, when he has been particularly bright, augurs well for Friday.
Vasari made up a huge amount of ground last week in the fastest last 800 metres of the day.
Girl on the second row
Lincoln’s Girl, who found the lead in her winning run last Friday, won’t be doing that this week drawn three on the second row in the second race at 8.53pm NZ time.
But Barnes says that’s a good thing.
“We don’t want to keep sending her forward all the time. We want to keep her settled and educate her.
Lincoln’s Girl is too good for her rivals at Albion Park last week, leading most of the way over 1660 metres.“Her goal is the Queensland Oaks (on July 13) when her best chance will be to come with one run.’’
Barnes says Friday’s race will be a good test for Lincoln’s Girl, her first at 2138 metres.
“She settled well out of the gate last week before Hayden rolled forward so hopefully she’ll do so again.’’
Barnes says since he fitted a more severe bit on Lincoln’s Girl, the filly has been a lot quieter in her trackwork and much more controllable in her races.
“It’s an even field with no real standouts but I think she’ll start reasonably short anyway.
“She’s super, I can’t fault her.’’
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Ray’s comments
Tuesday at Auckland
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
3.39pm
“He’s a beautiful horse, and a quality mover, who’s finally demonstrating his ability. He’s done a lot of work and has had a good, solid build-up so he’ll cop a bit of racing now and I don’t see why he won’t be in it again.”
Race 2: Frisco Bay
3.39pm
“If you put him in front or in the breeze he over-races. He needs a run where he can relax in behind - every time he’s got a two-hole trip he’s won. He’s a bit one-dimensional in that respect but he’s got a lot of speed and, if he’d drawn better, I’d have labelled him.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lou
4.04pm
“On paper, he should be favourite. You can’t fault that last run in the Golden Gait and if he repeats that he’s the one to beat. He seems to be back to where we had him before. He’s been incredibly unlucky in a lot of his races. We don’t need good luck, we’re just looking for no bad luck.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
4.04pm
“I can’t see him beating our other two. I don’t think we’ll see the best of him until well into his three-year-old year. He’s a big, rangy, slow developing horse. We’ll race him on Tuesday then give him a bit of a break.”
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
4.04pm
“I know this is a step-up in grade, and she’s drawn the outside, but I’ve got a feeling she could be up to it. Her driver, Maurice McKendry, is very enthusiastic about her and he’s no fool. He’s been happy every time he’s sat behind her. She keeps getting better and potentially could be a high class three-year-old filly. I’m quite excited about her.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
4.30pm
“He won’t burn off any quick beginners but he showed he could hold his own from the inside when he won two starts back. He’s just got to do it without doing anything tricky. He can pace roughly, he’s not the complete package yet, but when the penny drops he’ll be a serious horse.”
Race 9: The Big Lebowski
7.17pm
“I wasn’t disappointed with his last run. It’s hard to win those races from long back marks at Cambridge - Copy That had to go a New Zealand record to do it. He’s as good as he can be at the moment but these are the best horses in commission and we’ll be grateful for what we can get.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.38pm
“She can get some of it. She has a good draw so should get a good trip. She’s training on well.”
Race 4: Commander Lincoln
7.09pm
“The draw doesn’t matter with him as he’s not one to leave the gate. I thought he went super last time. He got home really well and was unlucky not to run second or even win.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.33pm
“Forget that last run. He half choked when Zac tried to restrain him and started pulling. He’s got a better draw this time, should hop straight into the trail, and hopefully get home as well as when he won the time before.”
