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Revealed: It’s Shartin’s owner who’s chasing our little warrior Trojan Banner

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.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.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Thursday night at Cambridge

Race 1: The Night Fox
4.59pm

“He’s racing well and I can’t fault him. The opposition is stronger this time but I can’t see why he won’t go another good race.”

Race 3: Spiritual Bliss
5.59pm

“She’s a good, tough mare. It depends on the trip you get in these sort of races but she loves it when they run hard and she can get some of the money.”

Race 3: Ultimate Cullect
5.59pm

“We haven’t had a lot of time to assess her yet. From the one drive I’ve had on her she doesn’t strike me as a sit-sprinter. But if they go hard, hopefully she’ll get home well.”

Race 5: Lincoln Maree
6.57pm

“It’s a “brutal” race but she’s drawn to get a suck along and hopefully she can last well enough for a cheque.”

Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.29pm

“There are a few in there that are better than him but he has a handicap advantage and, if he gets a good trip, he could get some of it. He steps well and his driver reckoned he would have won last week if he’d got the run at the right time.”

Race 10: Sammy Lincoln
9.23pm

“I can’t imagine him being beaten - they’d have to knock him over. He’s very fast and in case he has to move quickly early we’ll use the shorteners. I can’t see any problem with him going left-handed - he’s probably better that way.”

Race 11: Rivergirl Bella
9.54pm

“She’s honest and will try hard.”

Dan Costello Race Photography