Racing: Banner flying into Cup contention

ASHBURTON - Mainland Banner lost the battle but is on track for the war.

New Zealand's champion pacer returned to racing with a stunning performance in the $50,000 Ashburton Flying Stakes yesterday, going down in a brutal battle with Flashing Red.

It was the return trainer Robert Dunn and driver Ricky May could only have dreamed of as the glamour girl of harness racing raced up to sit parked at the 800m mark and looked the winner at the 200m.

Soon after her fitness gave out and she could not claw her way past iron-horse Flashing Red, who fought back to beat her in national record time.

The 2:55.1 for the 2400m standing start is over 2sec inside Elsu's previous mark set in the same race two years ago, an unbelievable time even allowing for the Ashburton track racing faster than any other harness racing track has any time in New Zealand.

That Mainland Banner could pace so fast in her first start since May, and with an injury-curbed preparation, was the mark of a champion.

"I can't believe she actually did that," said May.

"To think she could pace a time like that this early in her campaign with so much having gone wrong is hard to comprehend.

"And it was only that she blew out at the 100m mark that cost her the race."

The performance will ensure Mainland Banner starts favourite for her New Zealand Cup defence at Addington on November 14, for which she will have her final lead-up race at Addington on November 3.

While the track was abuzz with Mainland Banner mania after her comeback race it was easy to forget that her conqueror was a nine-year-old who will rate one of the true warriors of Australasian racing.

Flashing Red has been breaking hearts on the Grand Circuit for the last four years and showed just why with his fighting spirit yesterday.

He worked to the lead after 800m for catch driver John Hay and then cut out the sort of sectionals that meant most were struggling to keep up, let alone challenge.

"He is a great old horse, a lot of people don't realise how good," said co-trainer Tim Butt, who has only had Flashing Red for the last two months.

Before that he was trained by Stu Hunter in Queensland and he was sent to New Zealand because of his love of staying races and the awesome depth of the present Australian pen class crop.

"When you see how good this horse is it makes you realise how good the best Australian pacers are at the moment," said Butt, a regular on the Australian scene. "Mainland Banner was awesome but outside of her I think the best Australian horses are better than ours at the moment."

Flashing Red's win could leave stable driver Anthony Butt is two minds as to his New Zealand Cup drive.

Before yesterday's race he had indicated he may stay with The Flyin Doctor, and while he did not disgrace himself when running on well, Flashing Red is more proven in the big time.

"I have no doubts this horse can win the cup because he will love the 3200m," said Tim Butt.

It's Ella should have guaranteed herself a spot in the cup with her flashing run for third but her stablemate Roman Gladiator was the big failure.

He had a perfect run on the outside but failed to show any fight in the home straight and will be the big drifter from second favouritism for the New Zealand Cup.

Outside of the obvious stars the run of the race came from one who finished midfield in Imagine That.

The Mark Purdon-trained mare lost 40m in an early gallop but staged an incomprehensible performance to make ground well in the home straight when the record time is taken into account.

Many others, like London Legend, Waipawa Lad and Bob's Blue Boy will need a placing at Kaikoura next Monday or Addington a few days later to secure their cup spots.

Latest odds:

New Zealand Trotting Cup, $500,000, stand, group one, 3200m (Addington, November 14):

$2.50 Mainland Banner; $6 Flashing Red; $7 Baileys Dream; $7.50 Roman Gladiator; $11 Imagine That; $12 Sly Flyin; $15 Winforu; $16 The Flyin Doctor, Waipawa Lad; $18 Cobbity Classic; $25 Mi Muchacho, Tribute, Likmesiah; $30 Howard Bromac-10m; $35 Mighty Cullen; $40 It's Ella, Bobs Blue Boy, Classic Cullen, London Legend; $50 Napoleon; $60 Harnetts Creek, White Arrow, Badlands Bute; $100 Millwood Touche, Presido, Nursemaid, Onedin Legacy; $125 Life Of Luxury; $150 Kay N Kayes, Jackson Browne, Rameses; $200 Highview Badlands; $300 Ohoka Dark, Marika, Nick Off Holme, Mr Bojangles; $500 Keeprightondreaming, Nicky Hanover; $1000 Seaton's Lover.