McEvoy booked for Bonneval bonanza
SUPERSTAR jockey Kerrin McEvoy has been locked in to ride quality Kiwi mare Bonneval in the Caulfield Cup later this month.
Co-trainer Murray Baker confirmed the engagement after the NZ Horse of the Year extended its group winning sequence to six after an impressive win in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Sunday.
Bonneval was ridden by Hugh Bowman in the victory over Hartnell and Bowman was also in the saddle when she annihilated her opposition last autumn in the Group One Australian Oaks, while Damian Lane had the ride when she scored fresh-up in the Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley.
“She’s only got 52.5kgs in the Caulfield Cup and that rules Hugh Bowman out and Damian Lane is booked to ride Humidor,” Baker said.
“Kerrin has been on the radar for some time and I’m happy to get him. He won the Emirates Stakes on Turn Me Loose for us and he’s a top big-race rider.”
Baker is thrilled in the manner Bonneval came through the Underwood Stakes run.
“She’s still got her winter coat so there’s more improvement in her,” he said.
“I called in and checked the horses before coming to the airport and they’ve come through their races well.”
Bonneval will round off her preparation for the Group One Caulfield Cup Group One Caulfield Stakes, a weight-for-age 2000 metres a week earlier.
“Damian Lane will ride her in the Caulfield Stakes,” Baker said. “It’s the same weekend as the Everest in Sydney and Kerrin and Hughie will be riding there.”
Baker will have two definite starters in the Caulfield Stakes with Jon Snow, winner of last Friday evening’s Group Three JRA Cup, set to join Bonneval.
Stablemate to the pair Lizzie L’Amour is also a possible starter in the event, but Baker is also contemplating placing the runner in another group event.
“Lizzie (L’Amour) will either run in the Caulfield Stakes or in the Cranbourne Cup the next day,” Baker said.
“The Cranbourne Cup is worth $A300,000. We’ll decide closer to the time.
“She’s flying at the moment, but she just needs a bit of luck and she hasn’t been getting it. She was desperately unlucky last Friday night. Hugh (Bowman) said she should have won.
“She ran the fastest last 400 metres.”
Lizzie L’Amour suffered an atrial fibrillation in the horse’s Australian debut in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes then was held up on the fence and late clear when sixth behind I Am A Star in last Friday night’s Group Two Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley.
The trainer believes the mare is a huge chance to challenge the field, providing Lizzie L’Amour makes the cut.
“She’s 29th in order for the Caulfield Cup and got only 51.5kgs,” Baker said.
“There will be dropouts but it will be touch and go whether she scrapes in. She’s a good mare who has had no luck over here.”
Jon Snow has 54.5kg in the Caulfield Cup and Baker has opted for the Caulfield Stakes rather than the Herbert Power Handicap as the next start.
The weights for the Australian Derby winner are the decisive factor in Baker’s next move.
“We can’t risk running him in the Herbert Power and winning it because he would get a re-handicap,” he said.
“It’s better to run him in the Caulfield Stakes.
“Stephen Baster will ride him again and he’s booked to ride him in the Caulfield Cup, too.
“He won well on Friday night in the JRA Cup. He beat Ecuador by almost a length and Ecuador ran Winx to a half-length when he ran third to her at weight-for-age (in the Warwick Stakes). It’s good form.”