Trojan Banner pictured with his new best pal Chaise Saunders, nephew of trainer Al Barnes’ partner Cassie.
Rejuvenated Trojan Banner still building his picket fence form line in Queensland
By Barry Lichter • 22 April 2019
Trainer Al Barnes is tipping Trojan Banner to extend his picket fence form line with a soft win at Albion Park on Tuesday.
Barnes lines up Lincoln Farms’ rejuvenated three-year-old in the fourth race at 5.12pm NZ time and has also decided to run Lincoln’s Girl in the 10th race at 8.41pm, rather than trialling her.
Trojan Banner steps up to c3 to c4 company after his electric c1 to c2 win 10 days ago, his fourth on the trot in Queensland, but Barnes says he can’t see that stopping him.
“It’s not an overly strong field. There are a few good ones around but we’ve been lucky so far and have been able to miss them all.’’
While drawn awkwardly in six, Barnes says Trojan Banner has enough respect now to slide forward and get the top.
And even if former Southland pacer Cool Scooter, who likes to go hard, doesn’t hand up, Barnes says Trojan Banner is capable of sitting parked and comfortably beating them.
“A few of the leading trainers here are worried about him now - they said you just don’t do what he did last start and win.
It’s the charge of the Light Brigade behind Trojan Banner but the Kiwi colt has his fourth straight win at Albion Park all sewn up.“He just left them at the top of the straight when he wasn’t entitled to. They went the first half in 57 and he was three and four wide attacking and he still maintained his sprint.’’
Clocking a mile rate of 1:54.5 for the 1660 metres, with sectionals he could never sustain back home, Trojan Banner cruised to a two metre win.
Best of all, Barnes says Trojan Banner had recovered and was ready to go again two days later.
“He’s rock hard now. I can’t fault him.’’
Barnes says it’s not that long now until the three derbies he’s aiming Trojan Banner at:
* June 22: A$21,110 Redcliffe Derby (2040m).
* July 13: A$31,400 South East Derby (2138m)
* July 20: A$100,660 Queensland Derby (2680m).
“I don’t think it will be a problem peaking him for those races. He’ll be easy to maintain, he’s so happy and relaxed and he doesn’t need a lot of hard work. We’ll just space his races a bit.’’
Barnes decided to race Lincoln’s Girl on Tuesday, rather than trial her, after the nominations looked weak.
“She might as well have a race where she has a chance to get a cheque.’’
Barnes will make two gear changes to hopefully prevent the filly from galloping out of the gate like last time.
“I’ll put hopple shorteners on her and she’s been training well with a Norton bit during the week.
“I think she’s just a bit bright within herself. In the warmer weather she’s just feeling too good.
“I’ll nominate her for Friday as well to take the edge off her but she may not get a start.’’
Lincoln’s Girl has to start from the outside of the second row in her next two races, a tough ask at Albion Park, but could not be completely discounted after producing some fast sectionals after her early misdemeanour last week.
Trojan Banner races at 5.12pm NZ time on Tuesday.
Lincoln’s Girl races at 8.41pm NZ time on Tuesday.
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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.”
