Kristy Banks an unsung hero in Groves' success

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Dale Groves won’t be taking all the credit if he can conjure another win from Raiderlicious at Warwick on Tuesday.

Raiderlicious made a successful start in her Queensland debut winning an 800 metre Benchmark race at Warwick last month.

A four-year-old daughter of Kermadec, Raiderlicious strolled home by two lengths for jockey Georgina Cartwright who will again partner the mare in the Benchmark 62 Handicap over 800 metres.

Raiderlicious was a bargain buy when Groves’ wife Kristy Banks spotted her for sale online.

“I’ve got to give Kristy all the credit for getting her,” Groves said.

“She buys most of our horses and she’s got an uncanny knack of buying winners.

“This mare is a real nice type and looked stunning when we first got her.

“She won her first race at Warwick after having only six or so slow gallops and she never had a trial or jump-out.”

Groves paid only $900 for Raiderlicious who had started three times previously and won at Albury in November of last year.

“This mare owes us nothing and she cost less than the transport costs of $1,100," he said. 

“She came to me in awesome condition and the form around her has been very good."

Groves has retained Cartwright to partner her as she attempts to maintain her unblemished Queensland record.

“She should be very competitive and I think she can go on and win in town of a midweek,” Groves said.

Raiderlicious is raced in a syndicate which include Groves' wife, sister Mellony and her husband Barry Utz, Matthew Duncan and a group of mates from the Oakey Bears Rugby League Club.

Before her marriage to Groves, Banks was a highly talented jockey in South East Queensland.

However, her career in the saddle was cut short after being involved in a serious race fall in 2011. 

A mother of two, Banks is heavily involved around the stable and still does barrel racing.

“Kristy does the barrel riding stuff and the season kicks off at the end of March," Groves said.

While Banks started off in racing as a jockey, Groves started his career working for the late Darryl Gollan, who was well-known in the Australian racing industry and had a love for rugby league.

Gollan, the father of premier trainer Tony Gollan, left a lasting legacy as an owner, breeder and trainer before he lost a long battle with cancer several years ago.

Groves grew up at Gatton but went to high school with Tony Gollan in Toowoomba and started working for his father the day after graduating from Grade 12.