Oh so easy for Trojan Banner - and there’s plenty more to come, promises Al
By Barry Lichter • 15 March 2019
Trojan Banner’s New Zealand owners can look forward to regular Friday wins, says Queensland trainer Al Barnes.
The three-year-old, raced by Lincoln Farms and a big partnership, made short work of his rivals in his first start in Australia today at Albion Park.
In virtually a carbon copy of Barnes’ pre-race prediction, Trojan Banner came off the arm steadily, and when balanced up driver Hayden Barnes moved forward to take up an easy lead.
The horse was never challenged after and cruised home to win by 7.6 metres, clocking a mile rate of 1:55.6 for the 1660 metres.
Barnes never got serious as he ran a closing 800 metres in 56.4, giving the horse one flick with the whip when he had his ears pricked, seemingly waiting for his rivals.
Al Barnes, who stayed home in Marburg today to make sure his team was safe in a wild storm, says his son was thrilled with the effort and reported Trojan Banner had a good blow afterwards but pulled up well.
Al Barnes … huge improvement left in Trojan Banner.“He said he wouldn’t mind trying pull down (blinds) on him to make him concentrate but we’ll leave him for a few runs and maybe try them when the pressure goes on to make him sharper.
“He is a colt after all and they only do what they have to.’’
Barnes says there’s a huge amount of improvement still to come in Trojan Banner.
“I was pleased to see him do that today, given the hot weather we’ve had. It was still 33 degrees today with about 90 percent humidity.’’
Barnes now plans to race Trojan Banner regularly on Friday afternoons and says he should easily go through the grades, winning another five races before the opposition gets tougher in class three to four.
“He’s still eligible for a c0 maiden next time and that will be comfortable for him.
“He’ll race once a week in Friday grade - he earned $3394 today and little fish are sweet - before we step him up to Tuesdays where it’s a little harder but the money’s a little better.
“But I want to keep him to weak races for now to keep his confidence up and keep him assertive.’’
Trojan Banner has nearly 40 people in his ownership, the largest of all Lincoln Farms’ successful partnerships.
As well as Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, its business manager Ian Middleton 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, Auckland veteran Bob Best and former trainer Ray Green.
Barnes says Lincoln Farms’ second import Lincoln’s Girl will trial on Tuesday fortnight.
More news in Harness
Emotional night at the Park as Sammy Lincoln steps up for John and his sister Maree
Rivergirl Bella finally delivers - and Phil kicks himself for not being there or having a punt
This is it, Sammy, the draw’s a bit of a pain but you can eat these non-winners for breakfast
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
Update: Scratched
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
