Trojan Banner has everything in his favour on Thursday night. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Drawn the ace, Trojan Banner holds all the cards at Cambridge on Thursday
By Barry Lichter • 23 January 2019
Thursday is surely the night for Trojan Banner.
Weak field, barrier one, it all stacks up for the colt who has tested the patience of his trainer Ray Green and his owners since his last win 15 starts ago.
“It’s the best draw he’s had in 18 months,’’ says Green. “And he’s sharp as a tack.’’
About the only time Trojan Banner has drawn well in that time has been when he’s been in unwinnable races, against vastly superior horses. Like the night he drew two in the Alabar Classic and ran last, still pacing 2:42 for the 2200 metres behind Ultimate Sniper, Jesse Duke and Another Masterpiece.
We all thought it was his race to lose last time at Cambridge 11 days ago when he dropped down from Auckand company.
But while he paced a slick 2:40.8 it was only good enough for second behind About Turn after he looped the field at the bell to sit three wide with no cover on a 27.7 quarter.
Driver David Butcher managed to get cover down the back straight and produced him outside the leader 350 metres out but came up a length and a half short.
From the pole this time he will get a far easier trip, Butcher almost certain to gun straight for the top.
“I can’t imagine him being beaten this time,’’ says Green.
“He’s better than that lot.’’
Trojan Banner’s form might look ordinary on paper but his previous two starts at Auckland were solid
* On New Year’s Eve, he finished sixth, 5.7 lengths from winner Blazen River, but was buried four and five deep from his inside second row draw and had to come wide on the home turn when mounting his run.
* And before that, again from the second row, he lost a good early possie when he paced roughly then was pushed down to the markers, again ending up buried back in the field. Despite that he came with a resolute finish to run winner Sezana to 1.6 lengths.
On Thursday night Trojan Banner also has a major advantage on main rival Eastanbull who from three on the second row won’t be able to use his high gate speed. He is also having his first start for nearly three months.
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Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
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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.”
