Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
New Zealand-bred five-year-old Raven Banner, who gave punters a flying start at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he set the pace and won the opening event, the 1730m Direct Trades Supply We’ve Got Shedloads Pace, is bred to be a good winner.
Raven Banner’s full-brother Trojan Banner earned $245,852 from 25 wins and 21 placings from 98 starts, and his half-brother Crusader Banner raced 49 times for 14 wins, 13 placings and $157,222, with 13 of his wins coming in WA, including the Group 3 2015 Porter Memorial.
Raven Banner’s dam Caitlin Banner had 27 starts for two wins, 11 placings and $26,585, while her half-brother Mainland Banner was a star, with his 22 starts producing 17 wins and three seconds for earnings of $684,579.
Raven Banner now has raced 38 times for eight wins, 14 placings and $102,384. After six wins from 31 New Zealand starts the son of Bettors Delight has had seven starts in Western Australia for two wins and three placings.
The Greg and Skye Bond-trained gelding was a hot $1.20 favourite from the No. 1 barrier on Friday night when Deni Roberts drove him to an all-the-way victory over Faster Than Dad, a $13 chance who was tenth and last at the 350m mark before going five wide on the home turn and flying home to get within a half-length of the winner.
“I think Raven Banner might be coming to the end of his prep,” said Roberts. “When he comes back next time he will be a better horse.”