The mobile gate at Albion Park pulls away. If Trojan Banner stays on the markers on Friday he’ll be buried for sure.
‘Horrible’ draw for Trojan Banner leaves Al in a quandary over tactics for Friday
By Barry Lichter • 20 March 2019
Trainer Al Barnes has only one word for Trojan Banner’s draw at Albion Park on Friday - horrible.
Just a week after Lincoln Farms’ colt strolled round the track to a decisive first-up win in Queensland, he has been set a very difficult task from the inside of the second row.
And that, says Barnes, will make it very hard for him to win the third race at 4.57pm NZ time.
“He meets a similar class to last week and should really be a $1.50 shot but from there he could start at $4.
“The horse in front of him is a slug off the gate and if we follow him we could end up three or four deep on the fence.
“I’ll have to make a decision in the next few days what to do. If we come off early then you’ve got to circle the whole field and he’d have a very hard run.
“He’s certainly capable of doing it but I don’t know if I want to put pressure on him like that second up.’’
Trojan Banner looking sharp at his Marburg stable in Queensland this week.Barnes says he’s reluctant to “cook” Trojan Banner like his stablemate, former Lincoln Farms’ pacer Lincoln Road, who has endured two terrifically hard runs from bad draws in recent weeks and is now having a breather in the paddock.
Driving the horse quietly, especially when he is sure to be well backed, would come under the scrutiny of the stewards - “but they understand how it’s very hard to win coming from last.
“The only saving grace is that the race is over 2138 metres. If it had been a mile we would have been in a world of trouble.
“At least over the longer distance you have a little time up your sleeve. You can grab hold, pop off, give them a little breather in the second quarter, then take it as it comes.
“If the pace slackens you can slip around them. If not, you can be patient and put him in the race in the last 600 metres.
“He’s got a good enough turn of foot that he can come from anywhere.’’
Barnes says he has considered scratching Trojan Banner but with a two-week stand down it would only hinder his preparation and wouldn’t help pay the bills.
“He’s had a good week and has improved greatly since his last run but he’s still not at his peak.
“He took time to recover after his fast work yesterday and it was at 7am so it wasn’t in ridiculous heat.’’
Barnes confirmed his elder son Hayden would drive Trojan Banner again, despite Brendan being listed on the Australian harness website.
“Brendan is in Sydney for the Bathhurst Gold Crown.’’
Trojan Banner races at 4.57pm NZ time on Friday.
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Ray’s comments
Tuesday at Addington
Race 9: Debbie Lincoln
4.03pm
“She’s drawn out but I think she’s got the gate speed to be put into the race. You’ve got to be handy to beat the good ones and we don’t want to be stuck behind some of the others. The one drawn two inside us, Arafura, looks the one to beat but Debbie is as good as anything in the race in my opinion. It’s not going to be easy but I’m hopeful. She’s done well down here and is in good shape.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 5: Im Not The Maid
6.17pm
“The draw helps and while she’s very honest she still needs to improve. Gary Hall said she was a bit stop-start last time but he cut corners and wasn’t too far away at the finish. He reckoned his toe rope broke at the top of the straight.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
7.49pm
“She showed no speed when resuming and it’s hard to see her playing a part in this.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
7.49pm
“She went the best of them last time, was hampered turning or home, and could improve.”
Race 8: Jessie Lincoln
7.49pm
“She’s a big filly but so far, so good. There are a few negatives, like the second row draw and it being her first time under lights, but I think she could go quite well. It’s not a wonderful lot against her and she’s training well.”
Race 8: Lincoln’s Spice
7.49pm
“She over-raced early first-up and burned herself out. She’s a delicate little thing but we’ll put some plugs in her this week. Last time in I thought she could be the best of them. Whether the others have caught her up or she’s gone backwards I don’t know.”
