Baker says scans on Caulfield Cup contender Bonneval are all clear

Ben Dorries - Thursday October 19

Murray Baker says scans on Bonneval, ordered by stewards, have come back all clear and Kerrin McEvoy also expects the Kiwi mare will take her spot in the Caulfield Cup.

Advertisement
Kiwi trainer Murray Baker says Bonneval scans have come back all clear Photo: Darryl Sherer

"Apparently she was as good as gold (in the scans) and there were no abnormalities," Baker said, after McEvoy had worked Bonneval again at Flemington on Thursday morning.

"I am a little bit surprised as to all the attention as if she was sore we wouldn't persevere with her.

"When you pull a horse straight out of the box and its been standing there for seven hours, obviously it's stiff for a start. That's why they have warm ups for."

Baker is convinced the mare, the drifting $8.50 third favourite in latest markets, is fine to run in the Caulfield Cup despite suffering cuts to her offside hind leg and being found to be lame in her near side leg after Saturday's Group I Caulfield Stakes.

However she will still have to pass an RV vet inspection later on Thursday before being given the green light to line up in the Caulfield Cup.

Bonneval and Baker's other Caulfield Cup contender Jon Snow both worked on the dirt over 1400m at Flemington on Thursday morning.

McEvoy said Bonneval was sound in her action and is expecting her to run well on Saturday.

"She seems free as a bell in my opinion and was happy coming off the track," McEvoy said.

"I've been happy with her, I had a canter on her yesterday and then this morning I just did some nice striding work.

"I'd be surprised if she is not right to take her spot in the field."

McEvoy was asked whether RV vets had taken into consideration his opinion when assessing Bonneval.

"I'm not too sure, I haven't been asked," he said.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Waller Stable Hold the Key to Melbourne Cup
Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller has 27 of the 120 entries for this year’s $10million Melbourne Cup, which equates to more than 20 per cent of the total, so it’s probably worth having a closer look at them.
Winning Debut for Blueblood Frankel Filly
We usually associate the Mark Walker stable with the tangerine colours of Te Akau racing, but it was John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds colours in the frame for the astute Kiwi trainer trainer at Benalla on Tuesday carried by blueblood Frankel filly Chateau Eze.
Five Lots Announced for Tattersalls Online Barrier Trials Pop-Up Sale
Tattersalls Online, Europe’s leading online thoroughbred sales platform, will break new ground when offering for auction five lots who took part in the ITM Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Leopardstown Racecourse earlier this week. The sale which takes place on 3rd – 4th September can be viewed on the Tattersalls Online website www.tattersallsonline.com.
Zoustar 7YO Chasing G1 for Cambridge Stud
South Africa will tackle the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday night and earlier in the day a horse named after one of their favourite sons will be vying for Group One glory down the road at Ellerslie Racecourse.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 1
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Spring Trial Watch – Caulfield
With a plethora of Group racing for colts and geldings last weekend and fillies to take centre stage Sydney on Saturday for the Group II ATC Furious Stakes it was interesting to see a Caulfield trial on Tuesday morning that featured six stakes-winning 3YO’s.
Vale, G1 winning horseman Tony Dennis
A member of one of New Zealand racing’s most famous and successful families has died, with the recent passing of Tony (Anthony) Dennis, aged 86.
First Foals for Lofty Strike
One of the most interesting young stallions that we saw on the recent Victorian stud tour was at Swettenham Stud and it has not taken long for the big baldy face of Lofty Strike to find it’s way on to one of his first foals.
Tara Talks Racing - We Chat with the Breeder of Raging Force
The Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes was won last Saturday by exciting Cosmic Force gelding Raging Force, so this week we’re chatting to his breeder Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud, who has a self-confessed ‘mare addiction’!
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 2
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.