When the eldest son of 2005 New Zealand Cup winner Mainland Banner won at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night it continued a long and successful association with Bruce Tarry and the Mitchell family.
Tarry, who co-owns Stunin Banner, wasn’t on track to watch the 8-year-old entire notch up his 16th career win in the $9,000 Furnware Industries R60 & faster handicap due to the severe weather warnings.
“I live at Mangawhai Heads and was going to come down but when I rang Todd he said Cambridge could cope with the rain but the strong winds could have posed problems. He wasn’t sure at that stage if the meeting would progress.
“I like to get and watch my horses run as much as possible, but this time Iremained a bit cautious and stayed at home. It was a great training and driving effort by Todd. We were delighted,” Tarry said.
Stunin Banner started from the 10m handicap and led after 100m due to the only horse off the front line (Romanite) breaking at the start.
Mitchell then controlled the pace throughout to hold on and win by three quarters of a length and a length over Ideal Roman (David Butcher) and Lola Jones (Todd Macfarlane).
The son of McArdle paced the 2700m stand in 3;26.7 (mile rate 2:03.1) and came home in 56.9 and 28.1. He was the $16.70 seventh favourite (of eight).
"He's been a nice horse to claim. Todd claimed him from Graeme Rogerson at the Cambridge meeting last May,and he's done a good job for us since. I think we paid $6,000 for him and we've so far got about $10,000 to $15,000 in the bank," said Tarry.
The retired businessman owns Stunin Banner with Mitchell, his partner Catherine Cameron, and Murray Gower. He was bred by Ian Dobson.
Tarry said he had raced horses with Mitchell's father Robert for many years and got to know Todd through that connection.
"I think Todd had one of his first drives behind one of my horses back in the early 1980s and then when his Dad retired from training I sent my horses to Todd.
"I go back several decades with the Mitchells and they have always been very professional horsemen and treated our horses very well. That was a great front-running drive from Toddy on Thursday," Tarry said.
Stunin Banner has now had 81 starts for 16 wins, 17 seconds and 12 thirds. His stake earnings currently sit at $129,987.
Mitchell has now had three wins and five placings (plus three fourths) from 16 starts with the bay.
Stunin Banner is the second of five foals left by the 17-race ($684,579) Christian Cullen – Corporate Banner mare, Mainland Banner.
Foal number four Rocker Band (by Rocknroll Hanover) was born via embryo transfer. She has so far won 10 of her 32 starts including this year's Group One $100,000 Ladyship Cup at Melton's Tabcorp Park on February 17.
"We always knew Stunin Banner was from a good family and he has given us some happy times. I think claiming is great for harness racing. It gives everyone the same drink out of the well," Tarry said.
Tarry, a former galloping owner, said he loved harness racing because of its people.
"They are down-to-earth friendly people who are all trying to make a buck. I love the game and will never forget winning my first Group One with Linda Lovegrace.
"I'm hoping Spandau Ballet will follow suit," Tarry said.
Stunin Banner will line up next at Cambridge Raceway in a fortnight.
There were eight races at Thursday's Harness Racing Waikato – Bay of Plenty meeting and eight different stables were successful.
David Butcher was the most successful reinsman with two wins behind the Craig & Tony Jamieson trained $5.90 fourth favourite, BK Superstar in race one; and the Ray Green trained $1.40 hotpot, Onedin Amethyst, in the second event.
Duane Ranger