By Garry Dell
Race horse owners have a variety of reasons for buying new stock and Atherton Tablelands owner-trainer Ricky Ludwig had two inklings for selecting his latest purchase Bank Bank Bank.
"I've got a soft spot for the progeny of Written Tycoon and Bank Bank Bank just happened to be foaled on October 5, which is the date of my birthday," the veteran trainer said.
"I got him from the yard of Michael Moroney around my birthday last year and he had a good long break through the summer months, which I'm sure helped him acclimatise to the north."
Ludwig produced Bank Bank Bank for an impressive first-up win at Cairns last month and followed up with another success at Cannon Park again last week.
"He did run about a bit last week under Frank Edwards but he was always going to win once heads were turned for home," Ludwig said.
"I had planned to run him at Oak Park but the races were washed out so maybe he was a bit fresher than I would have liked.
"But, he's trained on well this week and I'm looking forward to Thursday's race at Townsville, in which he's drawn well at barrier six."
Ludwig will also saddle up his other three-year-old Lord of Light in a Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1400 metres.
Lord of Light, a winner of two of his last three starts at Innisfail and Cairns, will also be ridden by Frank Edwards, who shares a great strike rate with Ludwig.
Lord of Light showed a lot of promise against North Queensland's best three-year-old's last month and Ludwig believes he will be better suited over 1600 metres or even further in the future.
"The longer the races, the closer he can settle and he's got a good turn of foot when the pressure comes on late," Ludwig said.
"At least we won't be running into Palencia on Thursday, but we'll probably meet him in the Townsville Guineas over 1609 metres in a couple of weeks."
Last-start winner Palencia will line up on Thursday in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1300 metres with Roy Chillemi's stable apprentice Rachel Shred again in the saddle to reduce the top weight's impost of 63kgs.
Chillemi was full of praise for Shred's ride on Palencia in his last-start win at Cluden Park after drawing a wide alley.
"At last we've drawn a decent barrier in four so Rachel should be able to put him in the right spot," Chillemi said.
"We're heading towards the Townsville Guineas and might even keep him going for the Cairns Guineas on Cup Day there."
Meanwhile, Chillemi has a number of runners on Thursday looking to qualify for upcoming carnival races, including the Lightning Handicap on August 4 and the Cleveland Bay Handicap on August 6.
A number of Townsville and Cairns Cup hopes will be striving to enhances their chances in the Winter Cup over 2000 metres at Cluden on Thursday and the Mackay Cup on Saturday.