Emerging filly Lady Banff is the leading Magic Millions chance for Matt Dunn’s stable
Bloodstock agent Neil Jenkinson has drawn comparisons between Magic Millions 2YO Classic chance Lady Banff and the horse he believes was unlucky not to win the race for Matt Dunn’s stable. Dunn and Jenkinson talk about their best chance for the upcoming $2 million race.
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BLOODSTOCK agent Neil Jenkinson has drawn comparisons between Magic Millions 2YO Classic chance Lady Banff and the horse he believes was unlucky not to win the race for Matt Dunn’s stable.
Jenkinson and Dunn have teamed up again to find a diamond in the rough in Lady Banff who at $40,000 was the second cheapest horse they bought at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
The duo have previously had multiple runners in the $2 million 2YO Classic without ever celebrating a win.
Madotti was their greatest chance in 2015 but after drawing wide (barrier 11) and being forced wide through the trip it still managed to finish fourth, less than two lengths behind winner Le Chef.
Jenkinson said there is one key trait Lady Banff shares with Madotti and it has him hopeful of finally breaking through to win the prized race.
“We believe we missed an opportunity when Madotti ran in the race,” Jenkinson said.
“Lady Banff is a similar filly the way I view it.
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“This one doesn’t look as forward but it’s no shock to see her racing. The great similarity is they both have good brains, settled well and helped themselves. They have good temperaments and ate well. They both have done what they had to do without fuss.”
Dunn got a heap of his mates to take shares in Madotti because of their opinion of the filly but his partner Keira Dunn remains the majority shareholder of Lady Banff due to the relative anonymity of sire Top Echelon and Dam Alberta.
Jenkinson, an astute judge, said Top Echelon was an underrated stallion and when he toured Oakwood Farm for a parade he was convinced Lady Banff was one they needed.
“This filly walked out and she was beautiful,” Jenkinson said.
“She is a fairly big filly with great legs under her. She walked terrific and although there was a bit of a crowd there she coped with it well. She was the best filly at the sale but many would have thought $40,000 was even too much for her.”
Dunn said Lady Banff had progressed rapidly since they discovered her.
“She has come a fair way. She has always been very focused,” Dunn said.
“Physically she has improved out of sight with her work and that’s the biggest thing.
“We have been trying for long enough to win the Classic and we focus on it more than any other race in the year.
“It’s a big challenge. The horses you take are still babies. Everything has to fall into place and you need to pick the right horses.
“We have a few heading the same way but she is the one most likely at this stage if she keeps it together.”
Dunn’s partner Keira is the managing owner of Lady Banff and riders her every day.
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