Bonneval continued her outstanding start to the 2017 Spring Racing Carnival with a most impressive win in the Underwood Stakes.

Bonneval recorded another Group 1 victory in the 2017 Underwood Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

There was plenty of early speed in the Underwood Stakes and Samovare really poured the pressure on the rest of the field coming around the bend, which saw Bonneval and Hartnell lose contact with the main group at the 900 metre mark.

Bonneval responded well when she was asked for an extra effort by Hugh Bowman and she finished over the top of Gailo Chop to score another Group 1 win.

Co-trainer Murray Baker was delighted to see Bonneval win the Underwood Stakes and he said that the Ladbrokes Stakes is a likely target for the Australian Oaks winner before she goes into the Caulfield Cup.

“We didn’t know what to expect from her today – she was second-up and she still has that winter coat to lose,” Baker said.

“We thought that she had improved a bit from last start.

“She is a very good filly and it is her sixth Group 1 win in a row.

“She is in the Caulfield Cup and we will give her one more race – possibly in the Ladbrokes Stakes.”

Bowman said that the fact the race turned into a genuine staying test really played into the hands of Bonneval and he believes that the four-year-old will prove to be very tough to beat in the 2017 Caulfield Cup.

“They really poured the pressure on a long way out and that suited me,” Bowman said.

“I was hoping for a bit of a test – she was a dominant winner in the Oaks and she returned in good form two weeks ago.

“She is a genuine Cups contender – I just wish I was light enough to ride her.

“To win another Group 1 for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman means a great deal.

“She is a mare with a big future and let’s hope we will hear about her for the next couple of weeks.”

Hartnell was the bridesmaid once again, but was far from disgraced and he is another horse that is on the path to the Caulfield Cup.