Whoosh! Trojan Banner scorches past trial rivals like a ready-made winner
By Barry Lichter • 8 March 2019
Trojan Banner will make his Queensland debut on Tuesday week after thrilling his new trainer and driver in Friday’s trial at Albion Park.
Lincoln Farms’ three-year-old came from the tail of the field in the home straight and roared past his rivals, showing trainer Al Barnes even more speed than he thought he had.
“I didn’t think he could sprint that sharply,’’ said Barnes after Trojan Banner clocked a 1:57 mile rate in winning the 1660 metre trial by 2.3 metres, going away.
In the trail early for Barnes’ son Hayden, Trojan Banner ended up three back and in a hopeless possie turning for home.
Trainer Al Barnes … Trojan Banner has speed and stamina.“Hayden was a bit worried he wasn’t going to get a crack at them so he grabbed hold, went back and hooked out wide.
“He was rapt afterwards about how easily he did it.’’
Barnes said his other son Brendan was quick to run over and say: ‘I hope Hayden doesn’t want to drive that one’.
“But Hayden has first choice and he was pretty excited about the horse.
“He did it comfortably and could quite easily have gone a 1:54 or 1:55 mile.
“He steered well, hung in a little bit - but that could be because he’s only 90 percent fit - and handled the track well.
“That will tighten him up nicely and he can run on Tuesday week in a three-year-old race.
“Judging by that effort today he might have just as much speed as stamina.’’
Trojan Banner races past Much Bettor in Friday’s trial.Trojan Banner had no trouble running past Much Bettor, who has won four of his 11 starts, but his steady sectionals suggested he was simply too good for his rivals - his four quarters were run in 29.8, 29.2, 28.9 and 29.4.
Our Hi Jinx, a former Kiwi, won the previous heat in a 1:55.5 mile rate, home in 27.6.
“He’s one of the better free-for-allers over here,’’ Barnes said of the 19-race winner.
Trojan Banner is still owned by Lincoln Farms and a big partnership, including the 23-strong Green Machine Syndicate who race Friday night’s Auckland winner Celtic Thunder.
Their partners include the Four Legs Syndicate, a group of eight Waikato battlers who also share in Northview Hustler, Addington racing manager Brian Rabbitt and his sister Margaret, Joe and Raewyn Chojnacki and Lincoln Farms’ own team - owners John and Lynne Street, business manager Ian Middleton and office staffer Merle Gradwell.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
