Trojan Banner is very sharp for his resumption at Albion Park on Tuesday. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Trojan Banner very sharp for Tuesday - Hayden flat holding him in his final hitout
By Barry Lichter • 29 July 2019
Trojan Banner will make a surprise early reappearance at Albion Park on Tuesday evening, trainer Al Barnes delighted with how sharp he is post the Queensland Derby.
And even though he has drawn poorly at four on the second row in the eighth race over 1660 metres, Barnes says he’ll still earn a cheque.
Barnes believes Trojan Banner will be even better on Tuesday than when he ran his excellent fifth in the derby, running faster closing sectionals than the unbeaten winner Self Assured.
“That run really topped him off,” says Barnes “He’s very sharp now. When Hayden worked him the other day, he bolted on him.”
Set two trips over 2400 metres, Trojan Banner took off over the last lap.
“That’s not like him. You normally have to get up him to make him go, so it’s really good to see him so sharp.
“He’s only got to run up to his latest effort to be very hard to beat.”
Trojan Banner bursts home wide out at the finish of the Queensland Derby.Barnes believes Trojan Banner could have placed in the derby had Hayden chosen to make his run through the middle, rather than heading wide turning for home.
“Luke (McCarthy, on Jesse Duke) kept coming out underneath him and with Trojan trying to duck in, Hayden had to keep stopping to steer him.”
Despite that Trojan Banner was only 3 metres behind the third placed dead-heaters Jesse Duke and Our Princess Tiffany at the post, sizzling home in 53.55 and 26.56.
“It will be a bit tricky from 11 so Hayden will just have to see how it pans out. Whether he’s wide early or late, I’ll leave it up to him.
“It’s a good even field - Withalotofluck has won 21 races - but he’s up to them.”
Safely through Tuesday, Barnes intends lining Trojan Banner up again on Sunday at his local Marburg meeting.
“It’s only 2km down the road and he can run in the Marburg Derby and Lincoln’s Girl can run in the Oaks.”
In other stable news, Northview Hustler began jogging again today after a week’s rest.
“It was three days after the Blacks A Fake before he started to buck and feel good again. He’ll tell us when he’s ready but I expect he’ll race again in about three weeks.”
Trojan Banner races at 7.12pm NZ time on Tuesday evening at Albion Park.
More news in Harness
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Everything goes to script for new Gold Card member David Turner as Lincoln Wave swells
Sammy Lincoln can make amends on Friday after narrow escape - Spiritual Bliss too
Canny Fergie drive gets Lincoln Lover home at Taupo - and it won’t be his last win
Our runners this week
Wednesday night at Cambridge
Lincoln Maree, The Night Fox, Lincoln Lover.
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Sammy Lincoln
6.18pm
“He was checked and locked wheels into the first turn last week and he had a decent puncture wound in his leg from where they ran into him so you certainly couldn’t condemn him for galloping. He’s a really nice horse, who is going to win races quickly. He hasn’t missed any work, and should be right in it.”
Race 3: Lincoln Wave
6.43pm
“He’s drawn wide again (six) but he’s good enough to get the job done. It’s a bit more of a test for him but there are no cup horses in there and he’s a pretty nice horse. We’ve waited for both him and Sammy Lincoln because of their setbacks at two but it’s been worth it.”
Race 4: Johnny Lincoln
7.11pm
“He was very tough in winning after sitting parked last week. He’s awkwardly drawn again but he tries hard and, with a bit of luck and a good trip, he can get some of it.”
Race 6: Tyson
8.08pm
“Completely forget his run last week when he had no luck in the running. He’s a definite chance.”
Race 6: Spiritual Bliss
8.08pm
“She took no harm from the incident last Friday and has trained on well. I think she’ll go well. If you analyse her run, they went down the back in 27.8 and she did well to finish on for fourth after sitting parked.”
