A blue-blooded filly by champion sire I Am Invincible from Group I VRC Myer Classic winner Bonaria was an easy pick as the ‘One to Watch’ on Tuesday.
A $975,000 Magic Million purchase from the Widden Stud draft for her trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Bonheur showed nice ability in her first preparation with a debut third at Caulfield and a close fifth in the Group II MRC Blue Diamond Prelude won by Revolutionary Miss.
Returning from a spell at Moe in the 1200m maiden, she was ridden a confident race by Jye McNeil and rewarded connections with a comfortable length and a half win as favourite.
Entered for the Group I MRC Thousand Guineas, Bonheur runs for an ownership group that includes her breeder Robert Anderson and Widden Stud, where she was foaled and raised.
“It’s good to get a result in those colours for Robert Anderson and the team at Widden as they stayed in her along with other bunch of good owners,” said Trent Busuttin.
“Her mum (Bonaria) got better with age. I think she will get out over a bit further and be a nice 1600m filly no doubt, but it’s good to get the win out of the way today."
Bonheur is the second winner for Bonaria, who was also bred by Robert Anderson and foaled and raised at Widden.
By champion sire Redoute’s Choice, Bonaria is a half-sister to Group winners Time Out and Legally Bay, the dam of dual Group I winning Royal Ascot hero Merchant Navy.
Another of her half-sisters is Godolphin’s exceptional producer Chatoyant, the dam of three Group winners headed by $1.3million earning sprinter Paulele.
It’s a very progressive Black Type family that also features current stakes-winning fillies Heresy and Ebhaar.
Bonaria has an unnamed two year-old filly by Zoustar and a yearling filly by Pierro, but missed last spring so will have no foal this year.
