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.
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Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
4.58pm
“We backed off him after he was gelded but he’s in good shape and I think he’ll go quite well. He may need a race but he’s still classy enough to get the job done if he gets the right trip from four.”
Race 3: Sugar Ray Lincoln
5.54pm
“He’s dropping down in grade again and, subject to no dramas from his awkward inside draw, you have to consider him a serious chance. I’m very happy to have Carter on board, he’s an experienced driver now, and it’s a winnable race for him.”
Race 5: Timmy Lincoln
6.48pm
“He’s a beautiful, big American Ideal colt who showed quite a lot early on. It’s his first time off the place and first time at Alex Park, so it will all be new to him but he feels like he’s got a little bit of speed and hopefully he’ll do things right.”
Race 9: Copy Ten Four
8.54pm
“He’s a strong horse and his training has been much improved since his last race which seems to have woken him up. Right-handed is still an issue for him though - he doesn’t get the corners as well - but other than that, he’s a serious chance.”
