Hampton Banner left Lincoln Farms’ Pukekohe property this morning bound for Perth.
Surf’s up! Hampton Banner sold to Perth and partners switch into promising babies
By Barry Lichter • 26 February 2020
Improved three-year-old Hampton Banner has been sold and flew out to Perth this morning.
The Bettor’s Delight colt, winner of three of his 10 starts for Lincoln Farms, will join the stable of Mark Lewis, son of legendary driver Chris Lewis and will be raced by the same connections who are enjoying success with former Kiwi Bill Haley.
Pukekohe trainer Ray Green said Hampton Banner, whose stablename is Surf, was sure to do a good job in Western Australia, where a number of former Lincoln Farms’ pacers have excelled.
“He’s morphed into a nice racehorse, but he’s not quite good enough to frighten the really good ones, he’s in the next tier down.
“I’m sure he could have won a few more races here but now is a prudent time to sell him.
Hampton Banner showed a terrific turn of foot in this win at Auckland earlier this month.“It was a good offer and a good business decision to sell him now. The more we raced him here the more he would have devalued.”
Green had Hampton Banner in the Northern Derby Prelude field at Auckland on Friday night, against stablemates Copy That, Tommy Lincoln and Man Of Action.
“He was good enough to be in there but not good enough to win it.”
Hampton Banner was raced by Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street along with Ian Kedzlie, Dennis Ebert, Kevin and Annette Crosswell, Steve MacDonald, Robert Seebeck and Chris Prutton.
In keeping with Lincoln Farms’ policy of placing its partners in other horses after sales, all have now joined the ownership of promising two-year-olds Franco Nandor and American Dealer, who both race on Friday night.
Hampton Banner, who went through a lot of growing pains last season, won his first race at Cambridge last November and went on to win twice at Auckland, clocking a slick 2:39.3 in beating subsequent Victoria Oaks winner Dr Susan.
Two starts back he showed very high speed from last to reel in the field and win as he liked by two and a half lengths.
A brother to six-race winner Scarlett Banner, Hampton Banner is out of the Christian Cullen mare Surf And Sand and cost $60,000 as a yearling.
More news in Harness
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Nate having a last spin round on his wee mate Eric - and he’s in with a very good chance
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
