Metro Finals go to Father Barry and Johnny Lincoln

Father Barry (Father Patrick) did not become the trotting trainer that John Dickie thought he would become.

Well, not yet anyway.

The five-year-old trotter recorded the fourth win of his career in the $35,000 Metro Final at Alexandra Park on Friday evening, which may sound like a promising start for a horse that has only had 24 starts.

But the problem is that Fr Barry came second in a Group 2 Sires’ Stakes Trot on just his second start as a three-year-old, so he set the bar quite high.

And so far he hasn’t reached that level again.

“The power is there and I originally thought he was an open class trotter,” said Dickie, whose son Joshua rode Father Barry.

“But his brain failed him, especially from a standstill.

“It was a matter of concentration, which is why he carries half hopples from a stand, while he works fine from a mobile.

“I actually thought he might have ended up in Australia for fully mobile racing somewhere like Menangle, but he hasn’t, so we’ll keep working on him.

“I think a trip might be really good for him, something to get him out of his routine because he has done so many of his races at Alexandra Park.

“But that was a very valuable win tonight for his new owner Steve Waters, who only bought him a few weeks ago, so we will continue to work on him and hope he gets better mentally.”

FATHER BARRY REPEAT


Earlier in the evening, the other $35,000 Metro Finale for the pacers was knocked out by the much-improved Johnny Lincoln, even after having the toughest run.

The Ray Green and Nathan Delany-trained three-year-old worked his way forward early, but failed to reach his desired leading position on a mobile 2200 meters with sufficient pace.

But while that should have been enough to end his chances, he was brave all the way through Alexandra Park, where he recorded the fourth and richest victory of his career.

Johnny Lincoln was used to racing too much, sometimes quite fiercely, and although he still has a lot to learn, there is no doubting his courage.

He was one of two three-year-old winners for the stable as Lincoln Wave remained undefeated at start two one race earlier by leading the entire race.

It was a very appropriate victory as it is partly owned by long-time Auckland Trotting Club steward David Turner and the race was named after him as he had celebrated his birthday the day before.

The Green/Delany stable could actually have had an early triple of winning three-year-olds had Sammy Lincoln not thrown away Race 2 with a canter home, although few could begrudge winner Chanel Noire after she overcame her own check in the 400m to win in the style of a mare who will soon visit the winner’s circle again.

But the Pukekohe stable hit those high notes later in the program when Spiritual Bliss outsmarted her opponents to win the most highly rated pace and continue her excellent form since crossing Cook Strait.

For full race results, click here.

Through Michael Guerinfor Harness Racing New Zealand