In The Hall of Fame: Banner

Original article written by Grace Moon posted 2 years 4 weeks ago

Banner was an Ara Davies homebred who also bred and raced her dam War Song. War Song was a multiple grade one winning bay daughter of A.P Indy by the Halo mare Glorious Song. Aside from Banner, War Song also produced multimillionaire Evasive Maneuvers, Irish derby winner Reel, 2000 guineas winner Exit, and South Pacific champion older female Choral. Banner was the result of a pairing with Louisville derby winner Loki Flame, who also sired in order of earnings Long Island classic winner Heir to the Throne, Desert World cup winner Power Surge, Louisville oaks winner Valentine, and grade one winner Loki Reflection who produced classic winning filly Whitney.

Banner won her first two starts, a maiden at Paris Park, and the Nunthorpe stakes fi at London Gallops, before losing the Moyglare Stud stakes at Ireland racecourse. Taking some time off, Banner came back stronger, winning an allowance at Paris park, the Vodafone oaks at London gallops, and the Irish oaks at Ireland racecourse before losing the Steward’s cup filly and mare turf. She was honored as the European champion three year old female. At four Banner wasted no time, winning the Arc de Triomphe, at Paris race park, by three lengths over European champion two year old male Notable Dancer. In the Coral-Eclipse showcase at London Gallops, Banner took no prisoners, winning by over six lengths. For her last start in Europe Banner won the Tattersalls gold cup by an unspecified amount. For the end of her career Banner got her head in front of fellow European champion three year old female Capture A Moment in the grade one Hong Kong Vase ran at Tokyo racecourse. In all Banner won nine times from elven starts, being honored as European champion three year old filly, European champion older mare, and European horse of the year.

Banner’s first foal, a chestnut filly by Priceless Forever named Pennant is very interesting, as a three year old filly she was voted champion All weather older male, there are a couple things wrong with that, firstly there’s the matter of gender, Pennant was a female not a male, secondly Pennant was the wrong age, as a three year old she should not have been edible for an older champion award, and thirdly Pennant never tried her luck on that surface. Championship aside she was a three time grade one winning filly who was a Steward’s cup winner. In the shed she produced African horse of the year Pentagon, and South Pacific champion three year old female Riveting. Banner’s next foal Atlas, was a mighty horse, champion two year old, champion three year old, three time horse of the year, two time champion older horse and champion turf horse, the unbeaten Atlas still sits fifth on the list of all time earnings with twelve million. If it was a big race, Atlas won it, as a sire Atlas had little success. After Atlas came his full sister Map, a grade one winning millionaire filly who much like Pennant has a very interesting championship title, South Pacific champion two year old male, it’s the right year and age but wrong gender. In the shed Map’s best was European horse of the year Knot.

Siren by Chesapeake Bay, was a two time grade one winning filly. Chart by Jet Ski, won several top races including St Ledger and Epsom derby. Everest by Three of Crowns was another good one, champion two year old, champion three year old, champion older horse and horse of the year, when Everest put his mind to it there was little the stallion couldn’t do. As a sire Everest’s best son was the European horse of the year Imposing. Bongo by Bago was an Asian champion older female who won the Hong Kong turf distaff. Waterloo by Le Dauphin Noir, won the Worldwide stakes among other races for earnings of over two million but failed as a sire. Calafia by Black Condor never broke the million dollar mark but won several stakes races. Watchglass by Stop and Stare was a two time stakes winning filly who made her strongest mark in the shed as the dam of millionaire Mammoth. Banner’s last foal Trafalgar by Vernacular, was a champion three year old male, horse of the year, and two time champion older male. His finest moment came in the Arc de Triomphe where he powered home by five lengths over the otherwise undefeated July.

Banner saw three sons, Atlas, Everest, and Trafalgar join her in the hall of fame and has left a lasting legacy on turf racing. In the past eight years the following major race winners are descant of the mighty chestnut mare, year 54 Steward’s cup filly and mare turf winner Summertime Crush, year 50 Steward’s cup filly and mare turf winner Tell Me a Secret, Year 57 Steward’s cup turf, year 56 pegasus turf, and year 55 Chicago million winner Manic, year 54 Stewards cup Bunbury, and year 55 Steward’s cup turf winner Moulay El Hassan, year 51 Steward’s cup turf winner Gray, year 50 Steward’s cup turf, and year 55 Desert Duty free winner Sunday Heartbreak, year 57 steward’s cup Bunburtte winner With Daydreams, year 56 Stewards cup Bunburtte winner Zoom Zoom Kaboom, year 55 Stewards cup Bunburtte winner Safe Place to Land, year 53 Stewards cup Bunburtte winner Rightlovewrongtime, year 51 Stewards cup Bunburtte winner Love Cannot Fail, year 57 Cox plate, year 57 Chicago million, and year 55 Steward’s cup Bubury winner Improvisational, year 58 Desert turf class, year 57 Arc de Triomphe, and year 57 Saudi turf marathon winner Lightout, year 56 Arc de Triomphe winner Yang Wenli, year 53 Melbourne trophy, year 53 Cox Trophy, and year 53 Pegasus turf winner Antares, year 50 Pegasus turf, and year 51 Melbourne trophy winner Loveless, year 50 Melbourne trophy winner Emotions Run High, year 56 Chicago million, and year 55 Cox trophy winner Mal, year 53 Desert duty free, year 52 cox trophy, year 52 Chicago million, and year 52 Desert duty free winner Phenomenal one, year 51 cox trophy, year 50 cox trophy, year 50 Chicago million, and year 50 Desert duty free winner Speak With Fists, year 57 Desert turf classic, and year 57 Pegasus turf winner Voyage, year 56 desert duty free, and year 55 pegasus turf winner Roughian, year 56 Saudi turf marathon winner Rhys, year 58 Saudi turf cup winner Adiyodi, and year 55 Saudi turf cup winner Chief Lionheart.

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