Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Waikato Stud stallion Banquo recorded his first stakes win as a sire on Saturday and fittingly achieved it with a son carrying the farm’s colours, on their home track for their private trainer Kris Shailer.
Bred by the Matamata farm, Justin Case (Banquo) is out of Group Two-winning mare Do Ra Mi, and is a half-brother to Group Three performer Hanger.
The two-year-old gelding was being prepared for last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale by Ohukia Lodge, but was withdrawn, and Waikato Stud, alongside Ohukia Lodge principal and part-owner Jamie Beatson, have benefited from that decision.
Following a runner-up effort on debut at Pukekohe in November, Shailer set a course for Saturday’s Gr.3 Fairview Matamata Slipper (1200m), a race he won with Alabama Gold four years ago when training in partnership with Stephen Autridge.
Justin Case showcased his progression when winning over 1100m at Matamata last month, and Shailer was confident of another bold showing in his first tilt at stakes-level this weekend.
With a deluge of rain overnight, the field reduced to just four runners, with Justin Case jumping a $4.20 second elect behind Group Two winner Kinnaird.
Justin Case launched out of the gates under jockey Samantha Collett and made a beeline to the front from his outside barrier.
The Te Akau Racing pair of Kinnaird and Out Of The Blue loomed ominously turning for home, but Justin Case kicked again and quickly opened up on his rivals, going on to score by 5-3/4 lengths over Out Of The Blue, with a further long neck back to King Of The Air in third.
“He was very smart in what ended up a small field,” Collett said. “There was still a fair bit of quality there and he had to take that next step up from clearing maidens here.
“I am not convinced that the wet track is really ideal for him. He is still untapped and is an exciting horse. What impressed me the most is that he has come here on his home track and handled the occasion and put them away like he did.”
Shailer was rapt with the result, which extended his standout season to four wins from five starts.
“That’s awesome,” he said. “I am so stoked for the whole Waikato Stud team – Garry and Mark (Chittick) – and Jamie Beatson who owns half of him.
“This was the plan back in November, after he ran second at Counties we said we would put him away for a couple of weeks and give him a bit of a reset and target him for this race.
“I wasn’t too sure what he was going to be like on the really heavy ground. I really want to see him on top of the ground because I know he can run a bit of time, but that was dominant.
“He is a pretty laidback customer, he does everything on his own, he never works in company and has come to the races on his own, he is a cool horse.”
The Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day now looms as an obvious target, but Shailer said he will let the dust settle before making any concrete plans.
“It (Sistema Stakes) is on the mind,” he said. “We will see how he comes through this and then make a plan.”
Banquo, a son of Written Tycoon, was a stakes winner on the track himself, winning the Listed Springtime Stakes (1400m) for trainer Danny O’Brien, and was also runner-up in the Gr.2 Bobby Lewis Quality (1200m), Gr.2 Autumn Stakes (1400m), and Listed All Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m).
