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Trojan Banner trials at Albion Park on Friday and is close to making his Queensland debut. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.

Barnes: Trojan Banner feels like he can string the wins together quite quickly

Queensland trainer Al Barnes will wind the screw a turn with Trojan Banner tomorrow, stepping him out in a trial at Albion Park.

Barnes has nursed the Lincoln Farms-owned three-year-old through a virus which he contracted soon after arriving from New Zealand early last month.

And he says the horse, while slow to get over the illness, has been doing well in his recent training and is close to racing trim.

“I’ll give him a quiet trial over a mile on Friday to see where he’s at and give him a look round Albion Park,’’ says Barnes.

“He needs one hit-out before we get serious with him and if he’s ready to go he can run in a three-year-old race on Tuesday week.’’

The 1660 metre event, which carries a stake of $7860, would hopefully be the first of many wins for the horse, he says.

Al Barnes … believes Trojan Banner can go through the grades in a rush.Al Barnes … believes Trojan Banner can go through the grades in a rush.“He should be able to string four or five wins together quite quickly. There are a couple of handy three-year-olds here but nothing better than him.

“I think he’ll be one of the main players come derby time.’’

Trojan Banner’s long term aim is the A$75,540 Queensland Derby at Albion Park on July 20.

“Hopefully we can run him through the grades, get his confidence up, and then give him a couple of weeks off before getting him ready for the derby.’’

That news will be greeted warmly by the New Zealand partnership which still races Trojan Banner, who won three of his 18 races here but never quite lived up to expectations.

The second of Barnes’ recent Lincoln Farms imports, Lincoln’s Girl, is a couple of weeks behind Trojan Banner, having arrived with only eight weeks jogging behind her and also set back by a virus.

“She looks super and is getting through her fast work now.’’

Barnes continues to be delighted with Lincoln Road, whom he bought in a package deal with Blue Glory last year.

The Sir Lincoln gelding has won seven of his 12 starts for Barnes and was a certainty beaten when third last time on March 2, carted out the back before steaming home wide out to be beaten less than two metres.

“To finish that close was amazing,’’ says Barnes.

Barnes fancies the chances of Blue Glory, who races in Australia as Miss Blue Glory, in the opening race at Albion Park tomorrow at 4.17pm.

“She’s over all her problems now and is doing really well.

“She had issues with her joints, her knees, stifles and problems with her feet.

“We couldn’t get her pacing for a while but once we got her feet right, she was away.

“When I put the hoof testers on her I got a big reaction so I changed her shoes to take the jar out of her feet and now she can run halves in 55.

“She’s a tiny little filly and you wouldn’t think she could run times like that but I think she’ll be a class above them tomorrow.’’

Miss Blue Glory, who has only four rivals tomorrow, breezed to win three starts back and has been placed twice since.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Tuesday twilight at Cambridge

Race 2: Dreams Of Eric
4.53pm

“He’s drawn out a bit this week but I don’t think that will worry him too much. The driver’s pretty confident and we’ve got hopple shorteners on him to help him burn off the gate. Zac was pretty happy with his run last time. He only did what he needed to and there’s not much difference in the quality of the field. That one of Andre’s who beat him last time (St John Eight) is quite a nice horse who’d been racing well at Auckland.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 3: Angelic Copy
6.09pm

Update: Scratched

“There is some doubt over whether she will start and we’re taking blood tomorrow morning to see how she is. We eliminated the tie-up problem but after she trained below par this week we took a blood and it showed she had a virus.”

Race 3: Lincoln Linda
6.09pm

“She’ll need a lot of luck from the outside of the second row. She was too fierce again last time, but I’m hoping the likely faster pace on Friday will suit her.”

Race 4: Lincoln Lover
6.40pm

“Lincoln Lover isn’t training as well as Prince Lincoln but he has the inside draw to help him. And he’s a tough little bugger who’s not one to shirk his responsibilities.”

Race 4: Prince Lincoln
6.40pm

“If I had to choose between them I’d say Prince Lincoln is the better chance. He’s training very well and he’d be a chance of getting some of it with luck from his wide gate.”

Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.23pm

“I’m not holding my breath. He’s gone some handy races against the very best but he’s not in career best form. I’m just hoping the 2700 metres might suit him better. I think he might need a decent break.”

Whales Harness