London Banker (NZ) Cashes in at Eagle Farm

Well-related Karaka graduate London Banker (NZ) (Tavistock) lived up to his pedigree and obvious talent with a strong staying performance in Saturday’s A$200,000 Group Three Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm – his first win at stakes level. 

Bought by Roger James for $100,000 from Kilgravin Lodge’s draft at the 2017 Premier Sale, London Banker is out of a half-sister to Cox Plate (2040m) winner El Segundo (NZ) (Pins). From 28 starts, London Banker has now recorded nine wins, five placings and A$407,094 in stakes.

The Kelly Schweida-trained gelding had hinted that a major staying feature might be within his grasp with a bold fourth placing – only 0.8 lengths from the winner – in the Group Three Premier’s Cup (2400m) on May 28. On Saturday he duly delivered, capturing the 2400-metre feature that was won last year by superstar galloper Incentivise (Shamus Award).

After settling in third for a large part of the race, London Banker was squeezed back as the field began to raise the tempo coming up to the home turn. At the top of the straight, he had dropped all the way back to third-last.

But a gap opened along the rail and rider William Pike drove London Banker through it, quickening stylishly to draw clear for a two-length win over Seat Of Power (Sea The Stars).

Saturday’s Tattersall’s Cup win could have been the start of a big double for London Banker, who will now back up in next weekend’s A$300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) on the Sunshine Coast.

“You don’t like to get too far ahead of yourself, but these are the two races we targeted – this race and the Caloundra Cup next week,” Schweida said.

“We gave him a really good break, because he did a good job last time. It has taken him a little while, but well done to all the staff at home. They put in a lot of work.

“You wanted to be on him in the running today – you just didn’t want anything to go wrong. He looked good a long way out, but that doesn’t always happen.

“We’ll go to the Caloundra Cup next week, and he will have an easy week. He’s backed up before and won, so that’s been the plan all the way along.”