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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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“He didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
