Bons Away makes it four in a row in the Testa Rossa
THE pathway to a weekend-grade win for Ciaron Maher-trained Bons Away has been an unconventional one, but the horse has made every post a winner since the beginning of August.
Starting its winning run at Sale on August 2, the gelding has been taken all around Victoria, winning at Mildura and Seymour before swooping late in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday to record its fourth-straight victory and return $11.30 at Crownbet.com.au.
Race favourite Brave Smash ($1.10 at WilliamHill.com.au) encountered plenty of trouble, and while it managed to get out late the Everest hopeful could not match motors alongside Bons Away.
Brave Smash was subsequent drifter in the Everest market, being wound out from $13 to $21 for the October 14 feature at Ladbrokes.
Fast ‘N’ Rocking closed out well to return $6.50 at Sportsbet.com.au, but the win was all about Bons Away, which looks to be a horse to follow as its career progresses.
There was talk that Bons Away would saddle up for next Friday’s Benalla Cup, but part-owner Ken King said the team put their foot down.
“The choice was today or Benalla next week and I said to Ciaron ‘three times in the bush is enough Ciaron’, let’s have a throw at the stumps,” King joked in the aftermath of the race.
“He obliged (and) the horse has done the job. Great.”
Despite the strong win against against a true Everest contender in the form of Brave Smash, King said there’s no immediate plans in store for the in-form galloper.
“I don’t know,” King said when ask what’s next for Bons Away.
“We’re not in the (Benalla Cup) next Friday, that’s for sure (but) we’ll have a chat to Ciaron when he gets back from Sydney and see how the horse comes through.
“It’s his sixth run in today but he’s had a pretty easy time of it. The last three wins have been with a lot of weight and pretty comfortable.
“We’ll just see how he comes through it at have a chat to Ciaron.”