FIRST CITY DOUBLE FOR KRISTY BANKS

By Graham Potter | Sunday, September 6, 2009

Jockey Kristy Banks landed her first city double when she confidently piloted both Listen Son and Lilleelavee to victory in two very different rides at Eagle Farm.

The Tony Gollan trained Listen Son completed a hat trick of wins. Banks has been in the saddle on each of those occasions and her understanding of the gelding played a part in this latest success as she rated the three-year-old to perfection out in front. On several occasions the challengers looked set to relegate Listen Son back into a minor role, but each time, under the rider’s astute guidance, Listen Son kicked again to leave his rivals chasing all the way to the line.

On Lilleelavee for trainer Fred Adams, Banks played the waiting game before calling the mare into action with her rousing, trademark, come-from-behind finish. Again Banks knows the mare well as she rides it in work in Toowoomba.

This time the jockey’s judgement was tested in a different manner to the ride on Listen Son. Her timing, in getting Lilleelavee off the fence and asking her to make up ground, had to be spot-on. In the end it was inch perfect.

Banks got the ride because Stathi Katsidis, who had ridden Lilleelavee in her two previous starts, was not available for the meeting. Had Katsidis produced such a ride, the praise would be enormous. Banks deserves the same response.

Banks is more low profile though and, as such, she tends to tends to fly below the radar. Both her work-rate and strike-rate are admirable, and this first city double is a just reward for a highly capable rider.