Trojan Banner pictured with his new best pal Chaise Saunders, nephew of trainer Al Barnes’ partner Cassie.
Rejuvenated Trojan Banner still building his picket fence form line in Queensland
By Barry Lichter • 22 April 2019
Trainer Al Barnes is tipping Trojan Banner to extend his picket fence form line with a soft win at Albion Park on Tuesday.
Barnes lines up Lincoln Farms’ rejuvenated three-year-old in the fourth race at 5.12pm NZ time and has also decided to run Lincoln’s Girl in the 10th race at 8.41pm, rather than trialling her.
Trojan Banner steps up to c3 to c4 company after his electric c1 to c2 win 10 days ago, his fourth on the trot in Queensland, but Barnes says he can’t see that stopping him.
“It’s not an overly strong field. There are a few good ones around but we’ve been lucky so far and have been able to miss them all.’’
While drawn awkwardly in six, Barnes says Trojan Banner has enough respect now to slide forward and get the top.
And even if former Southland pacer Cool Scooter, who likes to go hard, doesn’t hand up, Barnes says Trojan Banner is capable of sitting parked and comfortably beating them.
“A few of the leading trainers here are worried about him now - they said you just don’t do what he did last start and win.
It’s the charge of the Light Brigade behind Trojan Banner but the Kiwi colt has his fourth straight win at Albion Park all sewn up.“He just left them at the top of the straight when he wasn’t entitled to. They went the first half in 57 and he was three and four wide attacking and he still maintained his sprint.’’
Clocking a mile rate of 1:54.5 for the 1660 metres, with sectionals he could never sustain back home, Trojan Banner cruised to a two metre win.
Best of all, Barnes says Trojan Banner had recovered and was ready to go again two days later.
“He’s rock hard now. I can’t fault him.’’
Barnes says it’s not that long now until the three derbies he’s aiming Trojan Banner at:
* June 22: A$21,110 Redcliffe Derby (2040m).
* July 13: A$31,400 South East Derby (2138m)
* July 20: A$100,660 Queensland Derby (2680m).
“I don’t think it will be a problem peaking him for those races. He’ll be easy to maintain, he’s so happy and relaxed and he doesn’t need a lot of hard work. We’ll just space his races a bit.’’
Barnes decided to race Lincoln’s Girl on Tuesday, rather than trial her, after the nominations looked weak.
“She might as well have a race where she has a chance to get a cheque.’’
Barnes will make two gear changes to hopefully prevent the filly from galloping out of the gate like last time.
“I’ll put hopple shorteners on her and she’s been training well with a Norton bit during the week.
“I think she’s just a bit bright within herself. In the warmer weather she’s just feeling too good.
“I’ll nominate her for Friday as well to take the edge off her but she may not get a start.’’
Lincoln’s Girl has to start from the outside of the second row in her next two races, a tough ask at Albion Park, but could not be completely discounted after producing some fast sectionals after her early misdemeanour last week.
Trojan Banner races at 5.12pm NZ time on Tuesday.
Lincoln’s Girl races at 8.41pm NZ time on Tuesday.
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
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.”
