1:52.8 opening salvo by Trojan Banner in the United States and Lincoln’s Girl in again

The demand for Lincoln Farms pacers went up another notch when first Trojan Banner then Lincoln’s Girl won in the space of 24 hours in the United States.

Trojan Banner was having his first start in the United States since being sold out of Al Barnes’ Marburg stable in Queensland and lined up a well backed commodity at Dover Downs in Delaware with champion driver Tim Tetrick in the bike.

After drawing the outside of the eight-horse field, Trojan Banner was sixth in the early running before improving to be fourth in the one-one at the 400.

When brought out three wide in the stretch he swept past the former Ken Barron-trained Never Say Never to win decisively in a 1:52.8 mile.

Trained by Jim King jun., Trojan Banner is now raced by Richard Poillucci and JoAnn Looney-King and looks set to pick up where he left off for Barnes, who prepared him to win seven of his 10 starts in Brisbane.

Lincoln’s Girl … four wins in the States from six starts.At Harrah’s in Philadelphia Lincoln’s Girl took a lifetime best when she did it the hard way yet still clocked 1:52.8 in a US$17,000 mile.

Driven by champion Kiwi driver Dexter Dunn Lincoln’s Girl left the gate from four and was third early before easing off the markers to face the breeze for most of the last 800 metres, which was run in a slick 55.

She engaged in a good battle with the favourite Glorious Nite before edging ahead by three-quarters of a length.

It was Lincoln’s Girl’s fourth win from six starts in the States for trainer Josh Green and owners Richard Lombardo and David Kryway.

Barnes, who won five races with the daughter of Sir Lincoln earlier in the year, says the run of success comes as no surprise.

“She was a good mare who was just troubled by her stifles but I always thought she’d do well over there.”

Lincoln’s Girl is out of Tania Tandias, also the dam of Lincoln Road, whom Barnes trains, and Tommy Lincoln, who has just gone for a month’s spell after galloping at Auckland last Friday.