By Glenn Davis
Tolga trainer Ricky Ludwig is confident he can quinella the Cairns Guineas at Cannon Park on Saturday with former Victorian Bank Bank Bank and Lord Of Light.
Bank Bank Bank is attempting to stretch his unbeaten North Queensland winning sequence to five in the Cairns feature while Lord Of Light will be out to redeem himself for the last start effort at Townsville on August 8.
Since leaving Mike Moroney’s Melbourne yard, Bank Bank Bank has won all four starts for Ludwig in Cairns and Townsville .
The four-year-old is a son of Written Tycoon, a breed Ludwig has always favoured.
“I got him off Mike Moroney for $25,000 and he was foaled on my birthday on October 5,” Ludwig said.
“I love the Written Tycoon breed.
"I think he's the best sire in the country.”
The 68-year-old Ludwig trained for many years at Beaudesert, south of Brisbane, before moving to Malanda, near Tolga on the Atherton Tablelands, in Far North Queensland eight years ago.
“I came here to retire and I’ve only got two in work but I’ve just bought another two and one is by Written Tycoon,” Ludwig said.
Ludwig has trained some useful sprinters during his career including Sundae Jester, who won 21 races, and Row Boat, who notched up 14 wins, when he was based at Beaudesert as well as former North Queensland star Windmill Lane.
“Bank Bank Bank only had three starts in Melbourne and he’s got untapped potential and could be the best horse I’ve trained,” he said.
“I also won a lot of races with Windmill Lane, who was the best I’ve trained so far, but I don’t know how good Bank Bank Bank is going to be.”
Ludwig gave Townsville-based jockey Frank Edwards, pictured on Bank Bank Bank, the choice of rides and wasn’t surprised he picked Bank Bank Bank.
“Fire King looks the one to beat although he’s had a lot of racing,” Ludwig said.
“Lord Of Light will probably get back and will be running on but I think Bank Bank Bank is the pick of my two.
“I think I can run the quinella.”
Ludwig is best known among his older colleagues as the trainer of Pan Gold, who was narrowly beaten when second to Chance Always in the Queensland Cup over 3200 metres at Eagle Farm in 1983.
“In those days they had developed prints and they called for three before the result was finally decided,” he said.