Trojan Banner, pictured scoring at Redcliffe, will not start on Sunday with an offer pending from the States. PHOTO: Michael McInally.
Al taking no chances with Trojan Banner on Sunday after big money offer from the States
By Barry Lichter • 3 August 2019
Trojan Banner has been scratched from Sunday’s Marburg Derby with connections considering an offer for the colt from the United States.
Given the size of the bid, trainer Al Barnes was reluctant to risk the horse on the tight 700 metre Marburg circuit, no matter how remote the chance that he might hurt himself.
“You’d never forgive yourself if someone knocked you down, or he got on a knee or hung and cross-fired and came out of the race sore.
“A rep for the owners will drive him at Albion Park on Tuesday and he is scheduled to be vetted on Wednesday.”
In the meantime Lincoln Farms and its partners in Trojan Banner are mulling over the offer which is at a level that he is unlikely to be able to win in the future.
The horse, who turned four on Thursday, won $44,820 in the last 12 months - here and in Queensland - with Barnes able to milk the three-year-old handicapping system in Australia, winning seven races on end.
But it will get tougher for him from now and as Lincoln Farms’ business manager Ian Middleton points out in an email to fellow owners, his value would plummet should he lose form.
Trojan Banner has won $30,006 in 18 starts in New Zealand from three wins and two placings. His Australian record stands at seven wins from 10 starts for A$32,724.
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Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
What’s Up The Hill.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
5.09pm
“She’s working really well and, from the good draw, hopefully she can run a drum. The field’s not that much harder than the one she beat last time at Manawatu (when parked for the last lap).”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
5.09pm
“We’re very happy with him - he’s come back a better horse. He went well at Auckland last start and is working well. We’ll be looking to go forward from the gate and hopefully get a gun run through behind Onyx Shard. On ability, he’s the better chance of the two.”
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.39pm
“He stepped like a bullet in his first go from a stand here in March. I thought he’d do the same on the second day but he galloped. We’ve got an overcheck on and hopple shorteners on Tuesday so he should make a good beginning. If he can step and lead, then maybe take a trail, he should be hard to beat. He likes it down there where the track is quite soft.”
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.04pm
“I thought I had Kevin Kline covered on Tuesday when we got to the straight because she was really travelling but he kicked away on us. It would be nice if she can get out of the gate as well again - she has good gate speed - and, if she does, she can get some of it again.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
6.04pm
“He was too good for them on Tuesday, thanks to a great Fergy drive, and he’s in the same field again this time. The extra distance and wide draw shouldn’t make much of a difference and he’s our best of the night.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.02pm
“He’ll be hard to beat again if he steps like he did on Tuesday. The 10 metre handicap shouldn’t stop him. I think he’s even better if he follows something and the extra 500 metres isn’t a worry.”
