Bonneval Not Confirmed for Caulfield Cup 2017 Start

October 19, 2017

Bonneval Not Confirmed for Caulfield Cup 2017 Start

Co-trainer Murray Baker may be confident his bonny mare Bonneval is “good as gold” for the 2017 Caulfield Cup on Saturday but she is still yet to be given a 100% pass from Racing Victoria stewards.

Kerrin McEvoy

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy said he would be surprised if his ride Bonneval didn’t line-up in Saturday’s 2017 Caulfield Cup field. Photo: Daniel Costello.

There is a pre-race drama playing out ahead of Caulfield Cup Day between the Kiwi-based Baker and the stewards regarding the race fitness of one-time favourite for the $3.15 million classic.

The soundness of the four-year-old Makfi mare has come into question after she pulled up slightly lame with cuts to her offside hind leg following her sixth as the beaten favourite in last Saturday’s Group 1 Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.

A winner of her previous six starts before the streak came to an end, Bonneval was examined again on Wednesday by RV head veterinarian Grace Forbes who still wasn’t happy with the mare’s gait.

Winner of the NZ Oaks – ATC Oaks double over 2400m as a three-year-old filly in the autumn, Bonneval will undergo a final examination this afternoon as ordered by RV chief steward Terry Bailey.

“We’ve said all week we were going to have a look at her,” Bailey said on Thursday morning.

“It was convenient for our vets to have a look at it this afternoon at Flemington.

“Our vets say she is one out of five [lame].

“They are going to confer with their stable vets and have another look at her [this] afternoon.

“As far as he [Baker] is concerned, whatever variance in her action is, that’s her.

“That’s why we want to talk to his vets.”

Baker enjoyed Caulfield Cup success with Mongolian Khan (2015) two years ago who improved on a Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes third to win.

Now training at Cambridge in partnership with Andrew Forsman, Baker said scans ordered on Bonneval had come back clear.

“Apparently she was as good as gold and there were no abnormalities,” Baker told Racenet.

“I am a little bit surprised as to all the attention as if she was sore we wouldn’t persevere with her.

“When you pull a horse straight out of the box and it’s been standing there for seven hours, obviously it’s stiff for a start; that’s why they have warm ups.”

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy was pleased with her work this morning and said the mare “seems free as a bell”.

“She seems free as a bell in my opinion and was happy coming off the track,” he said.

“I’ve been happy with her, I had a canter on her yesterday and then this morning I just did some nice striding work.

“I’d be surprised if she is not right to take her spot in the field.”

The punters remain unconvinced Bonneval will take her spot in the 17-horse Caulfield Cup field on Saturday.

Originally at $6 for the win after drawing wide in barrier 14, the 52.5kg weighted mare has drifted right out in Caulfield Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au to $9.

Bonneval worked on the dirt at Flemington over 1400m this morning, as did the stable’s other Caulfield Cup contender Jon Snow.

A $12 shot in Caulfield Cup betting drawn the same barrier that produced Mongolian Kahn, six, the four-year-old Iffraaj stallion is after a second career Group 1 win following his ATC Derby (2400m) success in April.

Two back Jon Snow posted a win in the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) at The Valley before his third in the Caulfield Stakes with Stephen Baster, who retains the ride on Saturday, in the saddle.

To back the visiting New Zealand stablemates in the Caulfield Cup 2017 head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Z...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pr...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

Pride Of Jenni was enormous running her rivals ragged with a blistering...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results:...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Dublin Down is into Saturday week’s 2024 Golden Slipper field after a gutsy...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results:...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

Celestial Legend put the writing on the wall for a huge year ahead with the...

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results...

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Top honours in the 2024 Canterbury Stakes results at Royal Randwick went to...

Race Results

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Zougotcha Dives Late to Salute

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Race Previews

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

Fields & Form

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

2024 Randwick Guineas Field & Odds Update: Militarize Set to Strike Second-Up