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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Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
Prince Lincoln, Angelic Copy, Colonel Lincoln, Sammy Lincoln, Sugar Ray Lincoln.
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
