Bonny Lass Wins G2 Foxbridge Plate

Media Release - Saturday August 24

Previously a stakes winner at the ages of two, three, four and five, Bonny Lass kicked off her six-year-old season on a perfect note when she defeated a star-studded field in Saturday’s Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.

Top mare Bonny Lass returns in winning fashion taking out Saturday’s Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The high-class daughter of Super Easy has taken her connections on a special ride over the last few seasons, beginning with a victory in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old in February of 2021.

Bonny Lass added the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) as a three-year-old and the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at four, and it was as a five-year-old last season that she really came of age. After luckless placings in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) and Gr.1 Telegraph (1400m), she handed elite three-year-old Crocetti his first defeat and collected a richly deserved first Group One victory in the BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa  in February.

Bonny Lass was one of seven Group One winners launching their spring campaigns in an eagerly anticipated renewal of the Foxbridge Plate at the same venue on Saturday, and despite some pre-race concerns around the Heavy9 track, her star quality shone brightest of all.

Bonny Lass was given a perfect ride by Craig Grylls, who positioned her in seventh behind a fierce early battle for the lead. It was Romancing The Moon who emerged in front after a frenetic first 200m, setting the pace in front of Electric Time, Wewillrock, Turn The Ace and Master Fay.

Those early exertions were always going to take their toll on the leaders, and the field fanned across the track at the top of the home straight to try to run them down. Grylls got Bonny Lass off the rail just before the turn and presented her five off the fence, and the ultra-consistent mare produced her customary turn of foot to sprint into contention.

The battle was far from over once Bonny Lass hit the front, with Skew Wiff soon sprinting through on her inside and drawing level with more than 200m still remaining. But Bonny Lass rose to meet that challenge and shook free again, surging ahead with the finish line in sight.

Bonny Lass dashed to victory by three-quarters of a length from the longshot Mali Ston, who flashed home late after being second-last at the home turn. Skew Wiff was another long head away in third, followed by eye-catching finishers Waitak, Mustang Valley and Puntura.

“We had a perfect run, really,” said Grylls, who has guided Bonny Lass to six of her eight career victories.

“She began well, and then a couple had to work quite hard to get around us. We were probably in the worst part of the track down on the inside, but she was always travelling well and I was able to get out at the right time.

Advertisement

“She just doesn’t know how to not win. Skew Wiff came up next to me around the 200m mark, and she just put her ears back and said, ‘No, you’re not getting past me.’ I wish they were all like her.

“She’s won stakes races at two, three, four, five and now six, so you can’t get much better than that. I love her to bits.”

Bonny Lass is trained by Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall for breeder Sandy Moore, who shares ownership with the Social Racing Starting Gates Syndicate and Brent and Wendy Cooper. Her 21-start career has now produced eight wins, eight placings and $745,900 in stakes.

“That was a very good effort today,” Norvall said. “We know how tough she is. The track being a Heavy9 today was a concern, but she’s tougher than most.

“Craig put her in a beautiful spot and she relaxed nicely in behind them, then kicked really hard in the straight.

“She’d trialled well and had pleased us in her training. Her coat is coming through ideally for this time of the year. I’m just delighted that she’s come in at the head of the field and I’m so happy for her. It’s a great start to her preparation.”

Bonny Lass is now rated a $6 chance for the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings on September 7, sharing second favouritism with defending champion Skew Wiff. Crocetti retains hot favouritism at $2.20.

“We’ll have a chat with all the connections to see where we go from here,” Norvall said. “It’s a fairly quick turnaround into the Tarzino, only two weeks, but we’ll definitely think about it.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Group Winning Mare Bonny Lass Retired
After a formidable career competing at the highest level, Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall’s star mare Bonny Lass has been retired from racing.
Wathnan Racing Swoop - Quai de Bethune Eclipses July Sale Record 775,000 Guineas
The Tattersalls July Sale concluded in spectacular fashion with QUAI DE BETHUNE selling for a record 775,000 guineas and the Busuttin Young stable also picked up lightly raced 3YO TIME ALLOWED for Australia.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Spring racing is just around the corner and a busy set of trials at Randwick on Friday featured eight heats won by juveniles with winners including stakes horses The Playwright and Cobra Club as well as unraced youngsters by Justify (USA), I Am Invincible and Flying Artie.
Loyalty Paying Off for Kiwi Breeder
Loyalty is a core value for Sandy Moore, and he is now reaping the rewards from that virtue with his Group One-winning mare Bonny Lass.
Debut 2YO Winner for Brutal
Fresh from siring a smart metro winner at Sandown on Wednesday in Brutalina, Brutal was in the frame at Scone on Friday where Brett Cavanough unleashed a promising two year-old debut winner in Bird Whistle.
Bred to Be Better at Three
Andrew Campbell will unveil another exciting youngster at Hawera on Saturday when two-year-old gelding Valvano makes his debut in the Simon Bendall @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m).
Willydoit Data Surprise - Sprinter or Stayer?
Scientific tests have revealed surprising results on the distance aptitude of this season’s star New Zealand staying three-year-old Willydoit.
Bonny Lass Makes Owners Happy
The aptly named Bonny Lass is ensuring her sizeable and enthusiastic support crew continue to celebrate the racing and social rewards of affordable thoroughbred ownership.
Unbeaten Crocetti Rolled in G1 BCD Group Sprint
One of the unluckiest horses in the top echelon of New Zealand racing in recent times, Bonny Lass turned things around with a supreme front-running performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 11
Here is the full list of 45 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.