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
Lincoln Wave scorches in, still on target for richer races and Sammy’s making progress too
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
