Memories of 1973 Stradbroke Handicap winner Lucky Cloud were revived when trainer Graham Banks broke a six-year drought at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.Banks, who trains at Oakey on the Darling Downs west of Brisbane, may not be a household name these days but more than three decades ago he was closely associated with Group One Stradbroke winner Lucky Cloud.Banks was the sprinter's regular rider in the Stradbroke lead-up races but he couldn't make the sprinter's weight for the big race and was replac

Memories of 1973 Stradbroke Handicap winner Lucky Cloud were revived when trainer Graham Banks broke a six-year drought at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Banks, who trains at Oakey on the Darling Downs west of Brisbane, may not be a household name these days but more than three decades ago he was closely associated with Group One Stradbroke winner Lucky Cloud.

Banks was the sprinter's regular rider in the Stradbroke lead-up races but he couldn't make the sprinter's weight for the big race and was replaced by Fred Marsland.

Weight problems eventually forced Banks to end his riding days and ever since his retirement from the saddle he's been involved in training.

Banks returned to the winner's stall on a Brisbane metropolitan track when lightly-raced four-year-old Proto scored a neck win over Mostlymen in the Racetree Plate (1000m).

It was Banks' first city success since Nosey Man won at Doomben on August 23, 2003.

"It's been a long time since I last won a race in the city," Banks said.

"I've had a few winners lately but they haven't been in town.

"Lucky Cloud was a great horse to me. He beat horses like Triton, Bengalla Lad and Carlton Boy.

"I've been a trainer now for about 30 years and one of the best horses I trained was Royal Rego which won the Bat Out of Hell (at the Gold Coast) 10 years ago."

Banks has no illusions Proto is as good as Lucky Cloud but for the time being he's just content to pick up more prizemoney.

Proto was bred in Toowoomba by Mick Dolly and is leased to Banks' wife Julie and close friend John Harvey.

Harvey is the managing director of an agricultural chemical company and also the principal of Croyden Park Stud at Cottonvale near Stanthorpe in south-east Queensland.

"Racing is just a hobby and I've got 50 mares and 50 weanlings and some broodmares on the property," Harvey said.

Meanwhile, promising mare Calm Before completed successive victories with a commanding 3-1/2 length win over Queen Of Asia in the Lyndhurst Stud Handicap (1200m).

Trainer Liam Birchley believes Calm Before is capable of winning a Listed race before going to stud and has earmarked the Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast in January as her early mission.

"She'll probably go for a break after one more run," Birchley said.

"This was a better win than last week and the better barrier helped a lot."

Calm Before was stakes-placed as a two-year-old when third to Black Minx in the Listed Sir Douglas Wadley (1200m) at Eagle Farm in June last year.

Apprentice Mitchell Speers gave Birchley a glowing report after the race.

"She relaxed a lot better today and there was plenty of horse under me. She really hit the line strongly," he said.