A lightly raced son of Maurice (JPN) with rock star looks, Bank Maur may have earned a run in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas following a dominant performance in the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1400m) for 3yo colts and geldings at Sandown-Hillside on Sunday.
Ridden by Jye McNeil for Richard Laming, Bank Maur defeated the Caravaggio colt The Fortune Teller by one and a quarter lengths with Dundeel colt Elliptical a nose back in third.
A winner on debut at Sale on May 25, Bank Maur rounded out his 2yo season when seventh in the Listed Oxlade Stakes at Eagle Farm.
He made his 3yo bow with a second to the I Am Invincible blueblood filly Waltz On By over 1300m on the Hillside track on September 7.
Richard Laming said the son of Maurice is a likely runner in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas.
"He’s always shown that he’s got good potential, but he won with authority, and he’s still got improvement to come,” Laming said
“He’s still got to do a bit more yet. He’s a nice colt, he’s still got a lot to learn, but it will be interesting to see what Jye thinks but onwards and upwards.
“Jye galloped him last Saturday at Caulfield, gave him a glowing report, and wanted to stay with him. Let's hope he wants to stay with him again.
“He’s got to do everything right, pull up and train on, but I think the mile (of the Caulfield Guineas) will suit him, and I think natural improvement.”
Jye McNeil said Bank Maur would take plenty of improvement from the run and believed he is worthy of a start in the Caulfield Guineas.
“I believe that’s their expectations, and he’s got that natural talent to take him to a race like that, so one to stick with,” McNeil said.
“The team have done a great job with him. He can get a little bit hot and bothered, and I was concerned about how he would be pre-race on a warm day, but with a run under his belt and a bit of freshness out of him, he presented in fantastic condition really progressed into his race.
“He conducted himself well and he put in a performance I expected today, so hopefully he can go on with it.
“I came from an impossible position first-up, and he probably shouldn’t have got as close as he did, but his class led him to do so and with the right run today, even though he’s still a bit green and had a look around he was as still able to win with a little bit in hand.”
A $130,000 purchase by Laming Racing from the Milburn Creek draft at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Bank Maur is the first foal of the winning Redoute’s Choice mare Banksia.
A $380,000 yearling purchase for John Warren Bloodstock, Banksia a half-sister to Group 1 William Reid Stakes winner and successful stallion Foxwedge and Listed winner She’s A Fox.
Ciaron Maher Bloodstock bought a brother to Bank Maur for $100,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
