Impeccably bred colt Banksy will get a chance to live up to his bloodlines when he takes a step up in class at the Sunshine Coast.
By Coolmore stallion Mastercraftsman who stood several seasons at New Zealand’s Windsor Park, Banksy will be having his third start and second of the campaign in Saturday’s HMR Projects Handicap (1800m).
Trainer Brian Wakefield paid $130,000 for Banksy and has an eye on the Queensland Derby with the gelding who is out of Entrepreneur mare Spray.
“A couple of his better horses have been out of Entrepreneur mares and I hope Banksy can live up to those bloodlines,” Wakefield said.
“He is a December foal and I don’t usually like rushing horses. But you are only three once and we might as well find out where we should be aiming with him.
“I know I have thrown him in the deep end. It is a very strong three-year-old race.
“If he runs as well as we think he might we can ease off the pedal a bit a see if we can get him into the Queensland Derby.”
At his most recent start Banksy caught the eye when he stormed home to win a maiden over 1300m at the Sunshine Coast on December 28.
Mastercraftsman was Europe’s leading freshman sire in 2014 and has had great success with horses such as Kingston Hill (English St Leger) and The Grey Gatsby (French Derby and Irish Champion Stakes).
The most successful of his Australasian progeny so far is the John Sargent-trained Thunder Lady, winner of the Group Two Wakeful Stakes and second in the VRC Oaks.
