The Southland trainer had a day to forget at Oamaru on January 20 and reckons Forbury Park has to be a better night out for his team.
''It couldn't be any worse,'' Barron said.
''Christy Breanna [who finished 10th] got knocked over twice in the same race. I've never had that happen before.''
His luck could well change with Kate Stephanie, who plotted her own destiny at Roxburgh on January 4, leading then trailing and using the passing lane to win in a 2.00.1 mile rate.
The Badlands Hanover filly was set to line up at the Northern Southland meeting at Ascot Park on January 17, but had to miss the 3yr-old event due to a foot complaint.
Barron does not expect Kate Stephanie to be at full fitness tonight, and is treating the $6000 2700m standing start as a ''glorified trial''. Under the 3yr-old handicapping concessions, the win would be penalty-free, and Barron intends to line her up at Wyndham on Sunday. She is the youngest horse in tonight's race, and her trainer is conscious of the toughness factor around the likes of 11yr-old Here Comes Brucie.
''She's probably the best on ability, but some of those hardened horses in that grade makes it a wee bit tough.''
The Witch Doctor, who starts in a 2200m maiden, is one of the unlucky runners from Oamaru. The Live Or Die 4yr-old was bolting as they came into the straight, but driver Nathan Williamson had nowhere to go initially, until a gap appeared.
''When he first went to take the gap it was four cart widths, but by the time he got there, there was only enough room for the horse [and not the sulky].''
Makarewa Jake, on the other hand, is not entirely blameless when it comes to hard-luck stories for Barron. He started his career with a nice second, but blew the start in his next two runs, including his last start at Oamaru.
A gear change could make the difference for the 3yr-old gelding, who is showing the worst of the headstrong traits often displayed by Sundon trotters.
''I've actually put full blinds on,'' Barron said.
''He went to the workouts [at Winton on January 24] after Oamaru and he trotted a lot better.
''If he trots like he did at the workouts the other day, he doesn't get beat.''
The one major down side for Makarewa Jake is his barrier draw of one, which will mean he is the first horse called into line.
''The last draw we wanted was one, but never mind, we got it.''
Josh Dickie is a surprise visitor to tonight's meeting. The Papakura-based junior driver has made a dash south to Forbury Park for a last-ditch attempt to make the Australasian junior drivers' championship beginning in New South Wales at the end of next month.
Dickie needs to finish first or second in the junior drivers' event (race 5) with Better Than Money in order to jump ahead of Zac Butcher on the North Island standings and book his spot in the series, which concludes at Menangle on March 2.
