Luai Banner Looking For Two In A Row At Richmond

By Jeff Collerson
Luai Banner should only need to reproduce last week's first and second splits to score another all-the-way win at Richmond on Wednesday night.

The Barry Gibbons-trained speedster will be chasing his eighth win in 15 starts when he exits box four in the Happy Birthday Wilma Messina Stakes, a 520m fourth and fifth grade.

Luai Banner drew box four last week when he jumped smartly and wasn't headed, producing best-of-the-night initial sectional times of 4.29 and 12.72 on his way to a comfortable win.

Luai Banner set up a seven-length break on the back straight, literally running his rivals off their legs before holding on well to score by two-and-a-half lengths.

Having turned two years old just this month, Luai Banner now seems to be stronger than he was last preparation, when his form included an all-the-way win at Wentworth Park in 30.04, an effort which took his tally at that time to four wins from four appearances.

In that race, he defeated a pair of classy sprinters, My Bandit and Has Ability, who was a finalist in last month's Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park.

Luai Banner winning at Wentworth Park in June


Hunker Down ran the race of his life when third to boom youngster Good Odds Atlas and Bianca's Boy over 520m at Wentworth Park last Saturday and looks the dog to beat in Wednesday night's Steeline Riverstone Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

At Wentworth Park Hunker Down jumped cleanly from box four and made the pace for the first 250m, posting nippy splits of 5.41 and 13.90 before being beaten three-and-a-half lengths in a smart 29.89.

He has box one on Wednesday and trainer Jack Tatian said: "If he comes out like he did at Wenty last Saturday he'll be hard to beat.

"The dog he probably has to beat for the early lead is Eye Roll Sloy, who has good pace and has box three.

"But if Hunker Down can hold him out in the run to the first turn he has a great chance of leading all the way.

"Hunker Down's best Richmond time so far has been 29.90 and I'm confident he will break 30sec again on Wednesday.''

Nangar Luna has been unplaced at her past four starts over 515m and 520m but trainer Joe McFadyen is much happier seeing her tackling a longer trip in Wednesday's 622m Ladbrokes Racing Club fifth grade.

Nangar Luna came from last for a fast finishing fourth over 515m at The Gardens at her most recent outing and boasts an impressive record over middle distances.

In seven middle-distance outings, Nangar Luna has recorded two wins and four placings, with her best performance being a slick 34.45 all-the-way win over 603m at Gosford in September.

Those figures were only .49sec outside the track record held by Like Wildfire, now regarded as being among Australia's best stayers. 

In that September race Nangar Luna led throughout from box two - her draw on Wednesday - to easily defeat Downtown Zipper, who proved the form with an impressive all-the-way Wentworth Park 720m win on November 18.

"This will be Nangar Luna's first middle distance run for a while so whatever she does on Wednesday she should improve on,'' trainer Joe McFadyen said.

"But in her recent races she has been crying out for a longer distance and it is nice to see her drawn near the fence.

"Charlee's Tommy will be hard to beat, especially as he is on his local track and has been racing over this distance recently.''

Nangar Luna with Kat Ernst


Best Bet Luai Banner (race 4)
Best Value Hunker Down (race 3)

Quaddie
Race 5 - 5, 8, 3
Race 6 - 7, 3, 1
Race 7 - 4, 2
Race 8 - 4, 5, 2
$20 for 37.03%