Beers for Baker as Bonneval cleared for Caulfield Cup

Ben Dorries - Thursday October 19

Relieved Murray Baker was off to have a beer after Bonneval was cleared to run in Saturday's Caulfield Cup, ending five days of speculation on whether the Kiwi mare would start in the rich race.

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Murray Baker was keen to have a beer (or several) after Bonneval was cleared to run in the Caulfield Cup

Baker felt the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders late on Thursday and also felt justified as he had insisted for several days there was nothing wrong with his mare.

"I'm relieved it's all OK, now I can go and have a beer and that's what I'll be doing," Baker said.

Bonneval was inspected by two Racing Victoria vets on Thursday afternoon who cleared her to run in Saturday's Caulfield Cup, a day after RV vets had found she was "one out of five lame".

RV chairman of stewards Terry Bailey was also at the Thursday afternoon inspection of Bonneval, with the mare trotting up to the satisfaction of the vets.

"Two of our vets looked at her and we also got his (Baker's) vet to do scans of the front leg," Bailey said.

"Those scans showed nothing of concern and she trotted up OK.

"She has been passed to race in the Caulfield Cup."

Baker had always been convinced the mare had been 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 last Saturday's Group I Caulfield Stakes.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy also insisted the mare was sound in her action when he galloped her on the dirt at Flemington early on Thursday morning.

Bonneval has drifted to as much as $9.50 with some bookmakers in Caulfield Cup betting.

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