Successful stopover for US-bound filly

Popular Queensland harness racing horseman Al Barnes has every reason to be a little chuffed with his recent results as caretaker- trainer with former Kiwi square-gaiter Lucky Mum (Father Patrick).

Barnes gave Lucky Mum three race starts for two impressive victories in feature events and a solid third placing in the Gr 1 The Great Square during her stay in the Sunshine State, ahead of being transferred to North America next month.

“She’s a very nice filly who has a ton of ability. I’m proud of the job she did,” Barnes said.

“The owner is Ricky Bucci who has a farm in New York. He’s a trainer over there and races mostly at Yonkers. He paid $100,000NZ for Lucky Mum and I think we earned about $40,000 for him,” he said.

Barnes, who lives at Fernvale, just outside Brisbane, spent time in North America earlier in his career, and now combines preparing a small team and doing track maintenance at Albion Park’s The Creek.

“I’ve sold a heap of horses to the US over the years to a trainer-driver in Austin Siegelman, who I formed a great friendship with. Last year when I visited Austin, I met Ricky at a Yonkers race meeting,” Barnes said.

“So, a while ago, Ricky got in contact with me and said he wanted a nice horse, but it had to be a Kiwi horse and preferably a young one.

“I thought Lucky Mum would be ideal because her run in the Great Northern Derby in NZ was terrific. She finished fourth and wasn’t beaten by much. I made a few calls, and the feedback was good.”

Lucky Mum was driven at all of her three starts in Queesland by Barnes’ son Brendan, who, at 27 is cruising towards 1000 career wins, with 76 so far in 2024.

Barnes, who has trained over 300 winners, said with just 12 starts under her belt, the three-year-old filly’s track record breaking effort in the Ladbrokes Trotters Cup at Redcliffe against older horses was super.

“She sat parked and when Brendan asked her to go, she clicked up but then started to pull up and wait for them. Her third in The Great Square behind Rockinwithattitude and London to a Brick was really pleasing too.”

At her most recent effort, Lucky Mum zipped to the front in last Friday night’s (July 19) $31,768 Queensland Trotters Oaks G3 and didn’t let punters down, scoring by nearly two metres at $1.70 favorite.

“Before the Oaks we thought we’d lead, and decided to keep her back with the field so there was no switching off,” Barnes said.

“I’ve had placegetters in Gr 1, 2 and listed races but this is my first Gr 3. I’ve won nice races with my other son Hayden, so it was good to combine with Brendan in the Ladbrokes Cup and the Oaks,” he said.

Barnes is predicting big things when Lucky Mum – who is booked on a flight on August 13 – begins her racing career in the US.

“She can absolutely fly the gate and has such a beautiful, smooth trotting action. She burns around the Marburg track (720 metres) so she’ll be right at home on the half mile tracks over there,” he said.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink