Outstanding young sprinter Bank Bank Bank continues winning ways

By Garry Dell

Atherton Tablelands trainer Ricky Ludwig is expecting his phone to run hot in the next few days with offers from Hong Kong for his outstanding young sprinter Bank Bank Bank.

The four-year-old added another paling to the picket fence of six successive wins with an easy victory in Benchmark 65 grade over 875 metres at Cairns' Cannon Park on Sunday.

"I had a few calls before he won at Cairns during the Amateurs carnival and there was talk of a price around the $300,000 mark depending on him increasing his rating," Ludwig said. 
"I told them he was worth a lot more than that and he's won two races in impressive fashion since, so the ball is in their court.

"Unless they come up with a bigger offer in the next two weeks, he will contest a 1200 metres Open at Townsville in three weeks' time and then I will probably give him a decent break during the hotter months.

"He's done a hell of a job for us so far and his last two wins have been remarkable."

The larrikin trainer is super impressed with his galloper.

"He ran smart time winning over 1250 metres by five lengths at Cairns and then on Sunday he lumped 63kgs and jockey Frank Edwards said he was never out of second gear running a tick under 50 seconds and the last 600 metres in 33 seconds," Ludwig said. 

"It was little more than a training gallop for him.

"He's certainly the best horse I've ever had and I have had quite a few winning ones over the years.

"I really don't know what his bottom is yet but if he keeps on his winning way and Hong Kong don't want him I'll have to look at taking him to Brisbane at the end of the summer.

"David Vandyke said he would be prepared to take him at the Sunshine Coast and that would probably work out best because I'm not getting any younger."

Ludwig recently celebrated his 70th birthday with a brief holiday to Darwin with his wife.

"I couldn't get home quick enough to the peace and quiet of the Tablelands and the horses," he said.

"I've got a couple of others on the way up from down south so I'll be pretty busy."

Ludwig's other horse currently in work - Lord Of Light - ran well in the Class 6 over 1400 metres on Sunday and he will be aimed at the Cooktown Cup in a fortnight's time.

Lord of Light worked home well behind the winner Wise Dragon, which gave Townsville trainer Stephen Bush his fifth winner since taking out his licence in June.

Bush was successful with Don't Tell Leeanne and Bay of Bengal at Cluden Park recently and followed up with a Wise Dragon victory at Bowen.