69th Stakes Winner for Lonhro

Mark Smith - Saturday October 28

As the only filly foal of the stakes-winning Bernardini (USA) mare Meidung, Banish's win in Saturday's $200,000 italktravel Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley had special significance for Godolphin.

Placed in the Reisling Stakes, Silver Shadow Stakes, Furious Stakes and Keith Mackay Quality, Meidung earned her stakes win in the Twilight Glow Stakes at Sandown five years ago.

She had just two foals, the 3yo filly Banish and the unraced 2yo Medaglia D'Oro colt Repulse before her death in October 2015.

A daughter of Lonhro, Banish was making her eighth start in the Fillies Classic and owned wins at Ballarat and two at Cranbourne. But she seemed exposed when stepping up to stakes company, finishing sixth in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes won by Shoals.

With Craig Williams in the saddle, Banish stuck to her guns gamely in Fillies Classic, repelling the challenge of I'll Have A Bit (Smart Missile) by three-quarter of a length with Touch Of Mink the same distance back in third (photo Grant Courtney)



We kept her ticking over and brought her to a peak for a race like this.

It's a great effort for a Lonhro filly like her to get a Group II next to her name.

"She's got something about her. She certainly had to show a great deal of determination to make a sustained run.

"She might have found her grand final there and it was a huge effort.".

The dam of Banish, Meidung, was out of a half-sister to another great servant for the Darley-Godolphin operation, the $1.2 million earner Pinwheel.

Banish becomes the 69th stakes-winner for the champion Lonhro.

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Yulong Acquire Australian Guineas Favourite
Yulong have announced they have acquired ruling Australian Guineas favourite Angel Capital.
Group One Blue Diamond Barrier Draw
The Blue Diamond Stakes barrier draw is done for the first two-year-old Group One of the season and connections of the favourites will be on good terms.
Fierce Impact 2YO Aiming For Stakes Racing After Riccarton
Former champion jockey David Walsh scored his first training success in more than two decades when Leah Hemi saluted aboard Zelia at Riccarton last month, and the local horseman is hoping the same combination can put in a repeat performance at the Christchurch track on Wednesday.
Juvenile Trial Watch - Rosehill
There were six juvenile heats at the Rosehill barrier trials on Tuesday with a first look at two impressive youngsters by I Am Invincible a highlight along with another Farnan youngster confirming his talent.
Juvenile Trial Watch - Three States
Some interesting two-year-old trials around Australia on Monday with a couple of first season sires showing up, a high priced Horses In Training graduate and a pointer to one selling at Magic Millions Perth this week.
Group One Winning Savabeel Mare Retired
It was an emotional day at Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stables on Sunday when co-trainer Sam Bergerson farewelled Skew Wiff for the final time following her retirement from racing.
Pivotal Ten Highlights Valachi Downs Legacy
Kevin Hickman has left a lasting mark on New Zealand’s breeding industry, with the recent success of sensational filly Pivotal Ten an embodiment of his vision at Valachi Downs.
OTI Racing Acquire Oaks Prospect
Australian syndicator OTI Racing have added a $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) contender to their New Zealand racing arsenal after securing promising filly Twisted Love last week.
Blue Diamond Market Movers Trying To Defy History
A day out from acceptances, the Monday market moves in the Blue Diamond have come for two horses trying to defy recent history on several fronts, while the favourite has paid up.
Latest Golden Slipper Order Of Entry
The latest Golden Slipper order of entry has been released by Racing NSW with Farnan's Inglis Golden Gift winner North England sitting at the top, while one of the highest earning youngsters in the country has nothing to show for it.