Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Hopeland trainer Debra Lewis had two runners, Goodfellaz and Hampton Banner, in the $25,000 Join Trotsynd Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with Goodfellaz a well-supported $2.30 second favourite and Hampton Banner a $15.20 chance.
Chris Lewis was driving last-start winner Goodfellaz from the No. 3 barrier, with Jocelyn Young in the sulky behind Hampton Banner, who began from the outside barrier in the field of seven.
Goodfellaz began speedily but was unable to cross the polemarker Jaspervellabeach ($18), and Young made full use of Hampton Banner’s excellent gate speed by dashing the seasoned veteran to the front after 150m, leaving Goodfellaz in the breeze.
Lusaka, the $2.10 favourite from barrier six, raced at the rear before Deni Roberts dashed him forward with a three-wide burst 550m from home. Goodfellaz moved to be almost on terms with Hampton Banner with 200m to travel.
However, Hampton Banner dug deep and went on to win by a metre from Goodfellaz, with Lusaka a head away in third place. Hampton Banner ran the final 800m in 56sec. and rated 1.54 to end a losing sequence of 22 and a drought of just under eight months.
The New Zealand-bred Hampton Banner, a seven-year-old by Bettors Delight, has earned $325,231 from 16 wins and 20 placings from 92 starts. He won at three of his ten starts in New Zealand before arriving in WA.
Young was pleased with Hampton Banner’s fighting qualities he revealed when challenged hotly late in the race by Goodfellaz and Lusaka. “Normally, when the challenges come, he pricks his ears and stalls,” said Young. “So, I didn’t hit him tonight, and that seems to have worked.”