Revealed: It’s Shartin’s owner who’s chasing our little warrior Trojan Banner
By Barry Lichter • 6 August 2019
The owner of the world’s hottest pacer Shartin is chasing Trojan Banner who was untouched to win his trial at Albion Park tonight.
Test driven by Emmett Brosnan with a view to buying Lincoln Farms’ colt, Trojan Banner led throughout the 1660 metre heat, ripping off a final 800 metres in 54.3 to beat Bettor Vision by 4.6 metres.
And afterwards Brosnan, son of veteran trainer Richard Brosnan, told trainer Al Barnes “he loved the horse” and would be advising American owner Richard Poillucci to buy him.
Shartin … the hottest pacer in the United States.Only last weekend Poillucci enjoyed the thrill of a lifetime when his former Kiwi pacer Shartin ran the fastest mile ever by a mare, clocking 1:46.4 in winning the Lady Liberty Final at the Meadowlands.
Lincoln Farms and its partners in the colt are still considering Poillucci’s offer, but Trojan Banner will be vetted for sale on Thursday morning.
The colt has been in scintillating form since arriving in Queensland earlier this year, winning seven races on end and clocking the fastest closing sectionals when fifth in Self Assured’s Queensland Derby.
He cruised it tonight, with a very slow second quarter of 33.5, asked only to run home his last 800, with his overall mile rate a sedate 1:57.2.
More news in Harness
Omaha Lincoln long in the odds but he has enough toe to say he won’t be entirely beached
Watch Sammy Lincoln charge home and you’ll want to be on at Cambridge on Thursday night
Lincoln Wave scorches in, still on target for richer races and Sammy’s making progress too
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Omaha Lincoln
4.49pm
“He’s never been to Cambridge, and it’s his first time off the place, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him go well - he’s certainly got enough speed to do the business. It’s guesswork trying to assess him against the others but I think he’ll do everything right so he’s a chance.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
6.51pm
“She is a bit one-dimensional - she’ll take charge of proceedings when the gate leaves. She could get parked but if she got a cheque I’d be happy.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.22pm
“He was taking ground off the winner last week and I don’t think the step up to 2700 will make much difference, he’s race fit now. He’ll do what he can do, he’s no champion, but he’s got the draw, he steps well and he won’t be far away.”
Race 7: Lincoln Wave
7.52pm
“The draw is awkward over the sprint distance at Cambridge but he’s absolutely capable of being right in the fray if he happened to get a good trip - he’s an improver every time he goes to the races. Not many of the others have run 1:54.”
Race 7: Sammy Lincoln
7.52pm
“I thought he did well to finish third last week after being parked out. The draw makes it very hard but he’s got real speed and if he dropped into it late, it wouldn’t surprise me if he got home really well.”
Race 10: Spiritual Bliss
9.24pm
“They’ll know they’ve been to the races if she gets any kind of trip. She was parked the whole way last time in 1:52 and wasn’t far off them. I don’t really want to see her parked again but you’d think Tytate would duck for cover knowing we’d say in front. She’s tough and reliable - she hasn’t gone a bad race since we’ve had her - and you know she’ll put herself in the race.”
Race 10: Another Cullect
9.24pm
“The outside is not a good draw for her but, if they go hard, it will suit her.”
