Hampton Banner strolls home for Zachary Butcher at Cambridge. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.
First came Scarlett, now Hampton, Ian’s sold on the Banner family
By Barry Lichter • 6 November 2019
Canterbury’s Ian Kedzlie must have been fated to have a share in impressive Cambridge winner Hampton Banner.
Kedzlie, 69, is one of seven partners with Lincoln Farms in the talented Bettor’s Delight three-year-old, four of whom hail from Christchurch.
But while all the others have been in previous partnerships with John and Lynne Street, it’s Kedzlie’s first time - and it happened quite by chance.
Kedzlie was looking over the Lincoln Farms website earlier in the year when off the page jumped the name Hampton Banner.
The retired company director knew the family well, having had a share in his full sister Scarlett Banner, who won six races with trainer Gavin Smith.
“I knew the horse went through the sale ring because I was on to Gavin to buy him, but (at $60,000) he was out of his range.
“I loved the family - it’s the magic Bettor’s Delight over a Christian Cullen mare - and knew there would be no more as Surf And Sand died giving birth to her last foal.”
Kedzlie lost track of what happened to the yearling - until quite by chance he saw it listed under Lincoln Farms’ two-year-olds being partnered, with shares still available.
Hampton Banner and Zachary Butcher in the winner’s circle - but there are no owners in sight. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.It was very timely as Scarlett Banner had just been retired, on the point of succumbing to the niggles which dogged her throughout her career.
When Scarlett Banner lost confidence pacing in 2018 Smith switched her to trotting and she scored three more fantastic wins.
“Gavin thought if we’d been able to keep her sound she’d have gone to open class.
“It’s a shame we never got to see her real ability,” says Kedzlie. “But I’ve bought a little more of her and she’s due to foal any day to Vincent.”
Kedzlie, who these days spreads his time between Akaroa, Timaru and Ashburton, was amazed watching Hampton Banner cruise home at Cambridge last night.
“He looked so much like Scarlett Banner so let’s hope he can go on with the job.
“Now I’ve just got to get up to Auckland to see him.”
Kedzlie is hoping that might happen on December 15, Interdominion Final night at Alexandra Park, when Chase Auckland, whom he has a tiny piece of, will be competing.
There he might also meet his fellow owners in Hampton Banner, fellow Cantabrians Steve MacDonald, Robert Seebeck and Chris Prutton, and Aucklanders Dennis Ebert and Kevin and Annette Crosswell.
MacDonald, Seebeck and Prutton are four-time owners with Lincoln Farms, having been in the partnerships that raced Royal Lincoln then Rocknroll Lincoln who both won four races before being sold.
They joined the Crosswells in Tigers Watching who didn’t make it to the races but under the special partnership deal were then transferred, free of charge, into Hampton Banner.
Ebert has been a regular Lincoln Farms supporter in recent years - he was in Royal Lincoln, Rocknroll Lincoln and Thephantomtollbooth - and presently races Tommy Lincoln and three gallopers in Singapore, Cru Bourgeois, Rock Me Easy and Miracle Time.
Ray Green … the raw ability has always been there.More quick wins in store
The team won’t have to wait long to see Hampton Banner win again if trainer Ray Green and driver Zachary Butcher are right.
Butcher told Green afterwards that Hampton Banner had his ears pricked and was cruising at the line, reeling off 2200 metres in 2:44.6 to win by two and three-quarter lengths.
“He was in a different class to that lot,” says Green. “They never got near him and Zac reckons he’ll win two or three more races pretty quickly.
“He’s a nice type of horse, always has been. The raw ability was always here, but he’s just been dogged by developmental soreness.”
Green says Hampton Banner, like his predecessor Recco Lover, simply couldn’t cope with the workload for a long time because of soft bones.
“You just have to wait for those type of horses and he seems to be holding up well this time in.
“He’s never been sound - mostly in his stifles - but we recently injected them and he’s turned the corner.”
More news in Harness
Rivergirl Bella finally delivers - and Phil kicks himself for not being there or having a punt
This is it, Sammy, the draw’s a bit of a pain but you can eat these non-winners for breakfast
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
Update: Scratched
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
