Cambridge trainer Murray Baker has given his tough staying mare Bonneval the all clear to take her place in the Group 1 $3.15m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Bonneval, above, has been cleared by trainer Murray Baker to run in the Caulfield Cup at Caufield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Bonneval is currently the Caulfield Cup equal favourite alongside of the Darren Weir trained Humidor at $6.50 and suffered her first defeat this preparation when sixth to Gailo Chop in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
The post race stewards’ report stated that Bonneval had sustained a minor cut to her off hind pastern and was lame in the near fore leg but Baker said that she was fine on Sunday.
“We can’t find anything wrong with her. I’ve had a vet around this morning and he’s ticked her off,” Baker told the Herald Sun.
“She’s trotted up without a problem and it’s onward to the Caulfield Cup.”
Even though Bonneval was beaten just over four lengths in the Ladbrokes Stakes, Baker was happy with the way the mare finished off the race.
“It was a funny race. They didn’t go very hard early and she was back further than we thought, but I was happy with the way she ran on,” Baker said.
Baker along with co-trainer Andrew Forsman are also hoping to saddle up Jon Snow in the Caulfield Cup and the four year old didn’t do his chances any harm with a solid third in the Ladbrokes Stakes and the master Kiwi trainer is looking forward to seeing him step up to the 2400m this weekend.
“I was happy with him. He stuck at it,” Baker said.
“He’s wanting 2400m and I’m hoping there will be rain about.”
Bonneval has started off her 2017 Spring Carnival campaign in great style with a first up win in the Group 2 $250,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on September 9 followed by a win in the Group 1 $750,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on October 1 before her unplaced effort in the Ladbrokes Stakes.
