Racing: Daddy's little princess is pacing's rising star

Robert Dunn remembers the day he wanted a meat pie at the Methven workouts last October for another reason besides satisfying his hunger.

This was the day the Christchurch-based trainer first set eyes upon Mainland Banner - the new pacing princess of New Zealand harness racing.

Dunn was in a rush to get his lunch when fellow horseman Dennis O'Reilly asked if he was interested in buying a "top racehorse".

O'Reilly led Dunn down to the stabling area and introduced him to trainer Ian Sowden and a well-built 3-year-old called Mainland Banner.

Dunn took the dress rug off the filly and instantly fell in love with the muscular physique of the strapping daughter of stallion sensation Christian Cullen.

Dunn and Sowden shook hands on a sale agreement.

Sowden wanted to qualify the filly before he would consider selling her and Dunn had first option to buy her.

It did not take long for Mainland Banner to make a hit when unleashed upon the racetrack.

Dunn travelled to the Ashburton trials a week later to watch Mainland Banner in action and was shocked at the closing 400 metre sectional recorded - 25.8 seconds.

Leading harness driver Ricky May drove Mainland Banner when she won a qualifying trial in November, clocking an unofficial New Zealand record when winning by 24 lengths.

Dunn moved quickly to secure ownership and purchased the filly for a hefty six figure sum.

A part-owner of Mainland Banner is Ian Dobson who raced the filly's sire, Christian Cullen, New Zealand racing's pin-up star of the late 1990s.

Mainland Banner made it seven wins from seven career starts when overpowering a quality field of 3-year-old fillies in the $100,000 (Group One) Wayne Francis Memorial New Zealand Oaks at Addington Raceway on Friday night.

The massive striding filly settled back off the speed during some brutal early sectional times before commencing a sweeping run forward, three-wide around the field over the closing 1000 metres.

Mainland Banner charged forward four wide to challenge the leaders with 400 metres remaining.

She was eased down at the post to score by 1 1/4 lengths over the solid-finishing Molly Darling with a further 2 1/2 lengths back to Life Of Luxury.

The 2600 metres (mobile start) was covered in a slick 3.12 (mile rate 1.58.8) with closing 800 metre and 400 metre sectional times of 58.8 seconds and 28.8 seconds.

Dunn, Dobson and May will have a discussion within the next two weeks regarding the future racing for the superstar filly.

"After she has raced in the Nevele R Fillies Final at Addington Raceway next Friday night we will have some serious decisions to consider about her racing future," said Dunn.

"We could look at taking her to Melbourne to race in the Victoria and Australian Oaks or she could head to the spelling paddock. She has come a long way this season in her first racing preparation as she qualified back in November and has raced right through to this meeting and has only had a three-week break.

"There is next season to think about as well. If we are serious about heading to Sydney in November for the Ladyship Stakes and possibly the Miracle Mile then we have to look at possibly taking her to Melbourne for those two 3-year-old races.

"She hasn't experienced long distance travelling and racing and going to Melbourne may assist us in handling her if we decide to go to Sydney next season.

"Ricky May will also be a big guide to us about whether or not we should be going to Sydney.

"She is a big striding filly and she may have problems pacing around a small track like Harold Park in Sydney.

"If we don't go to Sydney we could look at just racing her in her own grade and targeting the big fillies and mares races after Christmas then the two 4-year-old races [Noel J Taylor Mile and Messenger Championship] at Auckland.

"Then there is the option which I could be keen on and that is starting her in the 2005 New Zealand Cup. She's a great beginner from a standing start and would thrive competing over 3200 metres.

"It may sound suicidal taking on a horse like Elsu because, in my opinion, he's a champion.

"But in harness racing you never see a champion racehorse have stunning back-to-back seasons.

"I haven't seen it happen in my career as a trainer and that's something that is tempting when you look at a race like the New Zealand Cup.

"Elsu will be starting off a 15 metre handicap and we'll be off the front mark.

"It's something that is an option and that's all it is, right now."