Hampton Banner shows he’s come back in great heart for Auckland on Friday night

Hampton Banner ran a top trial for Auckland on Friday night when he led all the way to down a good line-up at the Pukekohe workouts on Saturday.

Hampton Banner, a rating 55 pacer, contested the 2050 metre heat for up-to-rating 67 horses and, after an early tussle for the front, never looked like being headed, clocking a 1:59.5 mile rate.

Lincoln Farms’ John Street greets Hampton Banner after his win at Auckland in November. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.In beating Robert Dunn’s good rating 63 filly Need You Now by a length, Hampton Banner sprinted his last 800 metres in 57.1 and 27.1, a fine effort for a horse who hasn’t raced for a month.

“He’s been training down pretty well, working with Copy That,” said trainer Ray Green.

“He’s pretty forward and ready to rock and I’ve nominated him for Auckland this week, along with Tommy Lincoln.”

Tommy Lincoln, who finished sixth behind Hampton Banner, after racing three back on the pegs, last raced at the end of November, and looked like he would take plenty of improvement out of the run.

Franco Nandor … big improver set for debut on Friday night.Green will debut Franco Nandor on Friday after his bold second behind She’s No Lady in the two-year-old qualifying heat over 1609 metres.

Driver Andrew Drake took the Mach Three colt straight to the front and stayed there until the back straight when She’s No Lady came out of the trail, attacked, and went clear.

At the line he was two and a half lengths behind, with the closing 800 in 57.6 and 400 in 29.6. The overall time was a very respectable 2:00.4.

“He’s getting there,” said Green. “He’s been a big improver.”

Stablemate Prestige Stride might have been 14.5 lengths back in third for Rhys Fensom but Green was rapt with her improvement.

“She’s never been that fast before. That was a big step-up for her, after going only 2:08 in her first two workouts.”

The Sweet Lou filly, owned by Emilio and Mary Rosati, qualified with the effort, and continues to improve, Green said.

American Dealer and Jeff Beck did not qualify after making mistakes in the running.

American Dealer was set alight soon after the start by Shane Butcher but broke when trying to cross Franco Nandor. He broke again 700 metres from home.

“The driver blamed himself,” said Green. “He said he flicked him on the bum at the wrong time.”

Jeff Beck (Andre Poutama) broke approaching the home turn.Jeff Beck was running third approaching the home bend when he, too, galloped for Andre Poutama.

“Andre said he thought the horse was hitting himself. He might be getting his head round but we’ll get him organised. He’s got ability he’s just not doing things correctly at the moment.”

Bondi Shake earned a start on Friday night with his placing in the earlier two-year-old workout.

The horse caused a false start when he started rearing and carrying on for Drake when his plugs were out but in the rerun took up the running from the start.

While gathered in by Steven Reid’s Mr Fantastic and Malcolm Shinn’s Royal Essence, he was only a long neck and a length away in 2:04.3, the last 800 in 58.8 and 400 in 27.7.

Platinum Stride was a nose further back in fourth, closing well from last.

Man Of Action broke twice in his left-handed heat, a lap out and 200 metres from home, but Green said to put the line through the run.

“He somehow got one leg out of a hopple loop at the start so he did well to even get round. He was entitled to a full stretch gallop.”

The heat was won by Poutama on Anam Nunu over Triolet in a mile rate of 2:02.6, home in 57.2 and 28.6.

Other winners on the programme were Dragon Tattoo, Lagertha, Giddy Heights, You Really Got Me and Constellation.