WHEN part-time horse trainer Paul Banks gave $1 to David Haines’ racing manager to purchase Armani Black six years ago he thought it was a joke.
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Banks, however, was determined to get some kind of receipt of the purchase.
After the horse had put in two dismal performances, Sutton Grange-based Banks decided that his first start in his care should be a long way from the limelight.
With Armani Black coming off an 18-plus length last in its final race for the Haines camp, the decision to head to the back of Bourke was one that paid off.
Louth racetrack attracted 10,000 people that year and most of the 40-odd bookmakers who had the horse at a starting price of 20-1 would soon regret their decision.
“Armani won that day and I believe that week-long journey was the start of his making; we headed home with a glove box full of cash,” Banks said.
The one buck purchase went on to win more than $105,000 from 84 starts with 11 wins, 5 seconds 16 thirds and 12 fourths.
It was the journey that Armani took him on that Banks holds so dear.
“Racing in southern NSW is not only competitive, but it is draped with great personalities and characters,” Banks said.
“We would go away for days and he became very popular. In his last couple of years he has taken to the Geelong synthetic track with great success.”
Banks’ intentions were to race out another winter and then retire the nine-year-old, however last week the horse returned to scale flat.
“I have never had horse look me in the eye and say he’d had enough,'' Banks said.
"I turned straight to the nearest steward and said my old mate's had enough. We’re not coming back.
“As a trainer we thrive for trebles, doubles, group races and winning in town, but when you get a horse that’s no good and it wins more than 10 races, it’s very satisfying.
"He didn’t just win races though; he took me on journey that was priceless.”