Banish earns Stakes success at Moonee Valley

A supreme effort by Godolphin’s Melbourne stable to produce Banish for a breakthrough Stakes victory won praise from trainer James Cummings at Moonee Valley on Saturday, 28 October.

Banish had shown well above average ability to win twice this preparation before taking on her strongest opposition to date in the G2 Tesio Stakes.

“It’s great for the stable and they should be proud of their efforts to get her to peak on the big day and get a G2 win on the board,” Cummings said.

“I think she might have absolutely won her Grand Final today – it’s a huge effort.”

“We just had to keep her ticking over and bring her to her peak in a race like this and the staff here in Melbourne did the job perfectly.”

With a black-type success to her credit, Banish has risen to the level Cummings had long hoped for.

“It’s a great effort for a Lonhro filly like her to get a G2 win next to her name. She’s got something about her and she had to show a lot of determination in making a long, sustained run.”

In a performance ranked alongside that of Banish, Godolphin’s visiting G1 Cox Plate runner Folkswood also produced a career-best performance to finish third to the champion mare Winx.

“We knew he’d have to be at his best to get near her and he made us all very proud,’ said Chris Connet, travelling head lad for trainer Charlie Appleby.

Folkswood raced on the pace from the start and fought bravely to hold on for the minor placing behind Winx and Humidor.

Also at Moonee Valley, It’s Somehwat finished third behind Lucky Hussler and Religify in the G2 Crystal Mile, Trekking was third in the G3 Red Anchor Stakes and Demerara filled the same position in the Listed Crockett Stakes.