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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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
