Trojan Banner (David Butcher) goes all the way at Cambridge last week. PHOTO: FokusPhotography.
Trojan Banner and Lincoln’s Girl to get passports stamped
By Barry Lichter • 27 January 2019
Trojan Banner signed off on his New Zealand career when winning at Cambridge last Thursday.
The colt, along with stablemate Lincoln’s Girl, will fly to Australia next week to join the Queensland stable of Alistair Barnes.
And if Barnes is right, both horses should do extremely well there, says Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green.
“Trojan Banner is at the stage where he’s going to struggle here,’’ says Green. “He’s not quite good enough for Auckland but he’s too good for Cambridge. And one more win and he’ll be racing against horses like Recco Lover.’’
Trojan Banner won three of his 18 starts here, earning $30,000, predominantly against very tough opposition.
His all-the-way win at Cambridge last week was his first for more than eight months but against easier company in Queensland Barnes expects him to win them in a row.
Lincoln’s Girl …won two of her nine starts here. PHOTO: Royden Williams.Lincoln’s Girl, who excels over shorter trips, won two of her nine starts, taking a mile mark of 1:56.7 at Auckland in only her third start as a two-year-old.
With a shortage of quality fillies in Queensland Barnes is also excited about her earning potential, says Green.
The pair will remain in the ownership of Lincoln Farms and its partnerships.
Barnes, helped by his partner Cassie Saunders and son Hayden, trains at Marburg, a small town 60km west of Brisbane.
He already trains former Lincoln Farms pacers Lincoln Road, who has won his last five on end, and Blue Glory.
Barnes describes Sir Lincoln four-year-old Lincoln Road as “the complete package”.
“He is so versatile - he’s led, parked out and come from behind - and this combined with his unbelievable will to win makes him a bit special,” he said.
“We’re hoping he can reach open class and that we’ll have plenty of fun along the way.”
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Little Missy Lincoln can stand up for herself in Young Guns fillies’ heat on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
5.44pm
“From a good front line draw Harry can run off the gate and find the front. He’s shown he’s got the speed to get there. And if he can go 2:42 again, or quicker, I thought he’d be a very good winning chance. It’s an easier field than the one he beat last time. He’s trained well this week.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.09pm
“She goes down to Cambridge for the first time so it’s a big drop in class. She also goes a lot better left-handed so I thought from the good draw she could run top three.”
Race 3: Lincoln Maree
6.34pm
“She paced a 1:56.7 mile in beating the amateurs last start but it looks like she’ll need a bit of luck from the draw this time. The two inside her like to lead so she could end up three fence or outside them. I’ll leave it up to Harry to get the right trip.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.34pm
“He’s a place chance. He likes bowling along but from five it’s hard to say where he’ll end up. He’s very consistent and he paced 2:42.3 last time so I can absolutely see him in the money.”
Race 6: Lincoln Linda
8.04pm
“She was in a very strong R40 to R48 race last time at Auckland against horses like Alecto, All Of Me and Cyclone Rebel, and she clocked 2:41.1, so back to Cambridge where she won her first race, and a much easier R38 to R40 field, she’s got to be a good winning chance. She’s best in front if Fergie can get there.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
4.42pm
“I’m not holding my breath with him. We won’t count that last run, when the leader went ballistic and he couldn’t get into the race, but he’s not well placed here.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.09pm
“She’s racing really well and this looks a bit easier than last time when she was trapped in the breeze in a strong field. I can’t see how she won’t be right in the fight.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
7.34pm
“I didn’t know what to expect on debut but she was very brave. I’m picking she’ll go well again but she’ll need a bit of luck - drawn the second line we’re at the mercy of others. We’ll poke her out and see. At least she won’t get parked this time.”
Race 10: Lincoln Wave
9.07pm
“We’re racing the best horses now but he’ll definitely go better than last time. Tony (Herlihy) said he felt super across the top but once in the straight he flattened out, which I half expected. I had him scoped afterwards just to make sure he was all right but he was short of a run, that’s all.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
9.07pm
“He went super when third last week and Fergie said just wait ’til he gets over 2700 metres, he’ll be a monster. He’s turned into a proper racehorse. From four there’ll be a bit of urgency early and hopefully he can get a suck along and get some of it.”
