The win that started trainer Al Barnes thinking he had a serious Derby contender in Trojan Banner.
Breather for Trojan Banner as Al maps out best path to the Queensland derbies
By Barry Lichter • 26 April 2019
Trainer Al Barnes has mapped out a path to the derbies in Queensland and will spell winning machine Trojan Banner for the next two to three weeks.
Barnes started thinking about the best path to take with Lincoln Farms’ rejuvenated three-year-old after he notched his fifth straight win at Albion Park on Tuesday.
Unbeaten since arriving at Barnes’ Marburg stables in February, Trojan Banner has had a number of easy kills but his supersonic win two starts back started Barnes thinking he was a serious derby contender.
And his plan, hatched along with the colt’s former trainer Ray Green, is designed to have Trojan Banner at his peak for the A$100,000 Queensland Derby on July 20.
“If I bring him back in mid May he can be trialling by the end of the first week in June.
“Then we can give him two or three trials and one easy race before the South East Derby on July 13.’’
The A$31,400 South East Derby (2138m) is run one week before the A$100,660 Queensland Derby (2680m) and would have him right at this peak.
It would mean Trojan Banner would hit his main target at his sixth run.
“We know how many runs he needs to be spot on, which he is now, and it’s six - he’s had one trial and five races for us.’’
Trainer Al Barnes … Trojan Banner has helped resurrect his career.Barnes says he has a lot to thank Lincoln Farms for and Trojan Banner had helped resurrect his career.
Trojan Banner, who won three of his 18 starts in New Zealand for NZ$30,000 in earnings, now has a career record of eight wins from 23 starts for A$47,950.
Trojan Banner has 41 owners, the largest of all Lincoln Farms’ successful partnerships.
As well as Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, its business manager Ian Middleton, trainer Ray Green 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 and Auckland veteran Bob Best.
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
