Al rapt as Trojan Banner mixes it with the older free-or-all pacers in super trial
By Barry Lichter • 25 June 2019
Trojan Banner allayed any fears trainer Al Barnes might have had over a recent injury hiccup when he trialled in super fashion at Albion Park today.
“On what he did today he’s ready to race,’’ said Barnes after Trojan Banner mixed it with some of the state’s tough free-for-allers.
Barnes pitched the little three-year-old against six older and far better performed pacers over 1660 metres, keen to get a guide on where his fitness lay after he hurt himself playing in his box and missed last Saturday night’s Redcliffe Derby.
The answer was emphatic as Trojan Banner powered to the line to be beaten just a metre by 16-race winner Mattgregor, closing in fast sectionals of 54.5 and 26.9.
Trojan Banner left 22 race winner Sams The Master eight metres behind, with Major Cam (19 wins) another 2.5 metres further away in fourth.
“He had some good tough horses behind him, horses who are on target for the winter carnival, so his run was super. I couldn’t fault it.’’
Trojan Banner started from the second row but quickly settled third, before moving out to park when pacemaker Mattgregor threw in a slow 31.2 second quarter.
Trojan Banner finishes right alongside free-for-aller Mattgregor in today’s trial at Albion Park.With the extra pressure he applied, the third quarter was run in 27.6 and that’s where Barnes says he was most excited for his little black.
“If you watch closely you can see it looks like he’s struggling at the 400 but we used pull down blinds today for the first time and when Hayden activated them he dashed up beside Mattgregor and tried all the way to the line.
“Considering his fitness is below par it was a very good trial. He did everything we wanted.
“I would like to have seen a more even tempo but he had a hard hitout, which is what I wanted, without putting him in a race situation.’’
The heat was run in 1:59, a very respectable mile rate of 1:55.4, just one tenth of a second slower than Trojan Banner clocked when winning the last time he raced at Albion Park two starts back.
Barnes was a little worried before the heat that an area where Trojan Banner lost skin in last week’s mishap, when he got his leg over a high window in his box, was quite close to his knee boot. But it didn’t worry the colt at all and Barnes is now confident the horse is on target for his first big assignment, the Group III A$31,400 South East Derby (2138m) on Saturday fortnight.
“The little fella just keeps on improving and he’ll earn a cheque in the derby, but what colour cheque we don’t know, it will all come down to the draw.’’
Barnes now has a decision to make on whether to trial Trojan Banner again next Tuesday, and keep his six-race winning streak intact for the derby, or race him in the JC McMullen, formerly known as the Premier’s Cup, on Saturday week, a c2 to c5 event where he would meet some talented older horses.
Barnes knows the going is about to get tough anyway with the All Stars’ talented pair Jesse Duke and Self Assured both down to start their Queensland carnival in a three-year-old event at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
