Cyclone Oma as it appears today, lurking off the coast of Brisbane.
Trainer reassures: Cyclone Oma can’t touch my two new Kiwi imports
By Barry Lichter • 22 February 2019
With a cyclone bearing down on Queensland, trainer Al Barnes has reassured Lincoln Farms bosses that new arrivals Trojan Banner and Lincoln’s Girl are out of harm’s way.
Al Barnes … excited about the futures for Trojan Banner and Lincoln’s Girl.Barnes reports the pair are in safe and spacious boxes so will be amply protected should Tropical Cyclone Oma turn nasty.
But latest reports today say places like Barnes’ Marburg stables, 60km inland of Brisbane, should escape too much damage with the cyclone just downgraded to a category one system.
Severe weather warnings are still in place as the slow moving system lingers 700km north east of Brisbane.
Lincoln’s Girl pictured in her safe surroundings at Marburg today.Barnes says both Trojan Banner and Lincoln’s Girl have got over the colds which affected them soon after their arrival at the start of the month.
“Trojan Banner will be at the trials in two or three weeks.’’
Lincoln’s Girl, who is in the early stages of a new campaign, will take a little longer to hit the racetrack.
Barnes says he is excited to have two such quality horses join his barn and expects they will do a great job for Lincoln Farms and its partners.
Trojan Banner tucking into his feed today. He is over his cold and will be trialling in a couple of weeks.Lincoln Road on highway to the top
Barnes, who is helped by his partner Cassie Saunders and sons Hayden and Brendan, are enjoying a terrific run at present with another Lincoln Farms graduate, Lincoln Road, who was bought in a package deal with Blue Glory last year.
Lincoln Road has started 11 times in Queensland and has won seven of his last eight starts, scoring recent back-to-back wins at Albion Park on February 8 and 16.
He posted a mile rate of 1:54.8 in winning over 1660 metres and 1:57.9 when scoring over 2138 metres, winning with authority both times.
(Miss) Blue Glory has also come good, scoring on February 12 in her seventh local start.
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: 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.”
