The win that started trainer Al Barnes thinking he had a serious Derby contender in Trojan Banner.
Breather for Trojan Banner as Al maps out best path to the Queensland derbies
By Barry Lichter • 26 April 2019
Trainer Al Barnes has mapped out a path to the derbies in Queensland and will spell winning machine Trojan Banner for the next two to three weeks.
Barnes started thinking about the best path to take with Lincoln Farms’ rejuvenated three-year-old after he notched his fifth straight win at Albion Park on Tuesday.
Unbeaten since arriving at Barnes’ Marburg stables in February, Trojan Banner has had a number of easy kills but his supersonic win two starts back started Barnes thinking he was a serious derby contender.
And his plan, hatched along with the colt’s former trainer Ray Green, is designed to have Trojan Banner at his peak for the A$100,000 Queensland Derby on July 20.
“If I bring him back in mid May he can be trialling by the end of the first week in June.
“Then we can give him two or three trials and one easy race before the South East Derby on July 13.’’
The A$31,400 South East Derby (2138m) is run one week before the A$100,660 Queensland Derby (2680m) and would have him right at this peak.
It would mean Trojan Banner would hit his main target at his sixth run.
“We know how many runs he needs to be spot on, which he is now, and it’s six - he’s had one trial and five races for us.’’
Trainer Al Barnes … Trojan Banner has helped resurrect his career.Barnes says he has a lot to thank Lincoln Farms for and Trojan Banner had helped resurrect his career.
Trojan Banner, who won three of his 18 starts in New Zealand for NZ$30,000 in earnings, now has a career record of eight wins from 23 starts for A$47,950.
Trojan Banner has 41 owners, the largest of all Lincoln Farms’ successful partnerships.
As well as Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, its business manager Ian Middleton, trainer Ray Green and office staffer Merle Gradwell, there’s Carl Officer’s eight larger than life Waikato lads in the Four Legs syndicate, Steve McCormick’s mob of 23 from Christchurch’s Green Machine Syndicate, all former Marist rugby mates, Addington racing manager Brian Rabbitt and his sister Margaret, Joe and Raewyn Chojnacki and Auckland veteran Bob Best.
More news in Harness
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Onyx Shard can keep the ball rolling for Ray and Nathan at Manawatu on Tuesday
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What’s Up with the trotter? - Ray ‘guilty’ of being very optimistic for debut on Friday night
Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
Kevin Kline, What’s Up The Hill, Sugar Ray Lincoln, Lincoln Lou, Debbie Lincoln, Colonel Lincoln, Frisco Bay.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
6.07pm
“He didn’t go very well in his workout right-handed last Thursday but he was good on Saturday when we trained him left-handed. It’s his first race for three months so he could possibly need it but we’re talking Manawatu opposition.”
Race 7: Onyx Shard
7.01pm
“She’s absolutely a winning chance. She showed that last time when she had to do a fair bit to hold the lead. Fergie is driving her this time and we’re pretty confident she’ll go well. She’s such a well-gaited mare.”
Race 8: Lincoln La Moose
7.25pm
“He dominated them last time from the outside of the gate and, even though he can be in and out, he’ll be hard to beat again. That easier opposition makes a difference when there’s nothing good enough to eye-ball you. “
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
6.50pm
“He was very unlucky on night one. The gap sort of opened up then closed again and I had to take hold. He was still charging to the line and if the gap had come he would have been right there with the winner. If he can step and lead, then slot into the trail, he should be a winning chance.”
Race 6: Onyx Shard
7.17pm
“Ferg said she wasn’t on the bit the whole way on Tuesday, was too relaxed. We’ll take the block blinds off this time and put half blinds on and see if that helps. She had to do a bit of work in the run on Tuesday but it doesn’t seem to have knocked her around. The outside draw makes it harder.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
7.39pm
“He looks our best chance of the night. He’s definitely a different horse down here and he obviously likes it in front. Ferg didn’t pull the plugs the other night and that tells you something. He’s doing everything right, I can’t fault him.”
