Al taking no chances with Trojan Banner on Sunday after big money offer from the States

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.