Trojan Banner, pictured scoring at Redcliffe, will not start on Sunday with an offer pending from the States. PHOTO: Michael McInally.
Al taking no chances with Trojan Banner on Sunday after big money offer from the States
By Barry Lichter • 3 August 2019
Trojan Banner has been scratched from Sunday’s Marburg Derby with connections considering an offer for the colt from the United States.
Given the size of the bid, trainer Al Barnes was reluctant to risk the horse on the tight 700 metre Marburg circuit, no matter how remote the chance that he might hurt himself.
“You’d never forgive yourself if someone knocked you down, or he got on a knee or hung and cross-fired and came out of the race sore.
“A rep for the owners will drive him at Albion Park on Tuesday and he is scheduled to be vetted on Wednesday.”
In the meantime Lincoln Farms and its partners in Trojan Banner are mulling over the offer which is at a level that he is unlikely to be able to win in the future.
The horse, who turned four on Thursday, won $44,820 in the last 12 months - here and in Queensland - with Barnes able to milk the three-year-old handicapping system in Australia, winning seven races on end.
But it will get tougher for him from now and as Lincoln Farms’ business manager Ian Middleton points out in an email to fellow owners, his value would plummet should he lose form.
Trojan Banner has won $30,006 in 18 starts in New Zealand from three wins and two placings. His Australian record stands at seven wins from 10 starts for A$32,724.
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Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
