Barnes, who is apprenticed to Brian and Shane Anderton, has seven rides at the Tapanui Racing Club's meeting at Gore and she is just getting to grips with several of her engagements for the day.
Barnes will do more research today on the likes of Loose Goose (race 5) and Tuatap (race 7), whom she is yet to ride.
She is slightly more familiar with The Boys (race 8), who looms as her best chance, after the Seasoned Star mare went back and off the pace at Ascot Park last Saturday. Her barrier draw of three gives Barnes plenty more options when the gates open at the 2000m in the Tapanui Cup.
''She'll go forward and the barrier will help,'' Barnes said.
''I think there was probably a lot of speed in the race [at Ascot Park] and everything that went forward on the day seemed to win.''
The Boys has been good enough to win over 2000m in the past, winning a rating 75 at Omakau
in March with relative ease. She was down in the weights that day, and will carry 56kg tomorrow with Barnes' 3kg claim alleviating the 59kg top weight.
She is hoping for more luck and less tardiness from Personal Justice (race 1), who has been slow away in her recent assignments, although Barnes expects the mare will get back again.
Just Frank (race 2) has been chased down after leading early and despite drawing barrier nine, Barnes is likely to employ similar tactics again tomorrow.
Avechii (race 4) has got into the 1200m maiden off the ballot and Barnes feels all is not lost despite two eighths in his race engagements to date, particularly with a helpful draw in barrier two, while All Spice (race 6) is up against a strong field in the the open sprint with Recording and Infallible likely to dominate the betting, but Barnes was not too disappointed with his run for sixth at Ascot Park after getting cramped for room around the home turn.
''He'll hopefully run on a wee bit.''
Additional information for meetings today.-
Manawatu RC Scratchings
Race 5: Don't Dilly Dally
Weather, cloudy; track, dead (4); rail, true.
Waikato RC
Weather, cloudy; track, dead (4); rail, out 4m.
