Trojan Banner finishes close up behind fine free-for-aller Mattgregor in his trial last week.
Trojan Banner can keep that picket fence form line going as he tunes up for the derbies
By Barry Lichter • 3 July 2019
Trojan Banner can maintain his picket fence form line at Albion Park on Saturday night - even though he’s raced only once in the last two and a half months.
“He should be too classy for them and it doesn’t matter if he sits in the chair, he’s pretty fit,’’ says Barnes confident that all the work he has done with the little colt at home will stand to him.
Barnes saw what he wanted when Trojan Banner trialled last week, beaten just a metre by fine free-for-all pacer Mattgregor in 1:55.4 after sitting parked for the last half of the heat.
It was a drastic improvement on his fitness level which was almost exposed when he resumed from a near two month break at Redcliffe and only just hung on in a close photo finish as a $1 favourite.
It looks nastier than it actually was and losing skin off his leg in a box accident didn’t affect Trojan Banner’s fitness.And it showed he had lost little through an easy week after taking skin off himself when playing in his box and missing the Redcliffe Derby.
From the perfect gate three on Saturday night Barnes says Trojan Banner will be right on the speed against opposition he should really be too good for.
“We’ll either be in front, outside the leader or in the one-one and from any of those positions he should win.’’
Barnes says Trojan Banner, who has won all six of his races since arriving in Brisbane, and Pacific Drums, who will be driven by his other son Brendan, are in a different league from their rivals on Saturday.
“Brendan’s is a really nice horse and has a lot of speed out of the gate. If he wants to lead or sit outside the leader he’ll do it.’’
Knowing that, Barnes says he won’t even be trying to cross the pole runner on Lincoln Farms’ stablemate Vasari, whom he will drive himself.
“My best chance will be to let Trojan Banner go and sit on his back. Vasari will follow them all day and won’t be far away at the finish.’’
Lincoln’s Girl … clocked a mile rate of 1:53.3 in winning her fourth race in Brisbane on May 31, but has a terrible draw on Saturday night.Girl no match for Princess
Barnes knows Lincoln’s Girl is going to need a lot of luck drawn the outside of the second line in the South East Oaks, two along from the All Stars’ unbackable favourite Our Princess Tiffany who trialled in a sensational 1:51.4 last Friday.
“Princess Tiffany will simply be too quick so we’ll drive her quietly as a sit-sprint horse and earn the best possible cheque we can.
“We’ll aim for fifth and hope for better and if she’s competitive we’ll keep everyone happy. We don’t want to run last.’’
While Lincoln’s Girl beat only one home in the Rising Stars Championship Final when favourite last week, Barnes says you can simply put a line through the run.
After drawing badly, the filly had an impossible task from the back and was caught in the three wide train behind a horse going nowhere, and forced to go four wide to get round it.
“If she’d been improving solo she would have finished a lot closer.
“She’s a funny horse. She doesn’t like racing at night and she’s happy doing her own thing until you put her behind another horse and tell her to wait. Then she’s not happy.’’
Barnes believes his other filly in the race, Miss Blue Glory, will hold her own as she’s fast and tough and will be suited to the likely Oaks tempo.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see her run on into a place.’’
Trojan Banner and Vasari race at 9.13pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Lincoln’s Girl races at 10.40pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Fine Cambridge double but Ray’s packing Lincoln Cove off to Matamata for scintigraphy
34 more meetings in the north next season as Auckland reclaims Friday nights
No way to sugar coat it - it’s tricky to predict what Sugar Ray will do on Friday night
Argyle out of action, injured, and barrier draw will take Nemo out of play too on Saturday
Our runners this week
Saturday night at Albion Park
Captain Nemo.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
