Group One Mare on the Comeback Trail

Media Release - Thursday July 5

Outstanding mare Bonneval is making good progress during the early stages of a new preparation that is hoped to see her cross the Tasman again.

BonnevalThe multiple Group One winner and reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year hasn't raced since last spring after injury halted her proposed summer campaign.

"She's had a couple of easy gallops and all going well she'll trial at Te Teko in early August," said Andrew Forsman, who trains the Makfi four-year-old with Murray Baker.

"She's had the time to get over the injury and the joint looks spot on. She looks great and she's strengthened and really thriving at the moment."

Bonneval has only raced 12 times with her seven wins featuring the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m).

"She's only lightly-raced, but she's got a pretty impressive CV," Forsman said.

Advertisement

"Murray and the owners will have a talk after she trials and, if she comes through that well, they'll set some serious plans – probably a similar path to last spring."

The stable is also keen to see Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) winner Jon Snow, Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Vin de Dance and Zabeel's son Zacada cross the Tasman.

"All looks well with Jon Snow, he's got over the niggling foot problems and Zacada was obviously runner-up in the Sydney Cup and we'll look at the Melbourne Cup with him," Forsman said.

"Vin de Dance will get over there again, he ran well (for fourth placings) in the Rosehill Guineas and the Australian Derby." – NZ Racing Desk
Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Friday October 3
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Mogumber Park hoists wet sail with Marine One
This time last year, the first foals by Mogumber Park stallion Marine One were widely regarded as some of the best types on the ground in Western Australia.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
We had three heats for 2YO’s run at Warwick Farm on Friday morning over 815m with winners by Farnan, Ole Kirk and Kia Ora Stud’s first season sire Captivant, while Stay Inside had an impressive trial winner at Murray Bridge.
Historic Day in Kalgoorlie - Old Meets the New
Kalgoorlie knows how to party, and on Cup day 2025 the party was big!
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 4
Here is the full list of 119 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First G1 Winner for St Marks Basilica - 1.7million Filly Undefeated
The top lot at the 2025 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale was a blueblood St Mark’s Basilica filly from blue hen Prudenzia that sold for €1.7million to MV Magnier and she became the first Group I winner for her sire when charging home to win the Group I Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) at Longchamp.
Media World Adds to Millionaire Yearling Stakes Success
Stakes racing on Saturday produced a number of stakes-winners purchased for seven figures as yearlings in Australia with $1.8million Inglis Easter sale-topper Autumn Glow leading the way in the Group I ATC Epsom after earlier success for $1million 2YO Incognito, while at Flemington $1.4million entire Media World took out the Listed VRC Paris Lane Stakes (1400m).
Wootton Bassett G1 Double on Arc Day
The shattering loss of Wootton Bassett (GB) has been highlighted at Longchamp in France on Arc Day where the champion sire added two new Group I winners to his tally in 2YO colt Puerto Rico and the former Aussie owned 3YO colt Maranoa Charlie.
Surprise Bart Cummings Victory Secures Valiant King Melbourne Cup Run
It’s not often you see a runner from the Chris Waller stable go around at 50/1 odds, but 6yo gelding Valiant King (GB) produced an outstanding effort to win Saturday’s $350,000 Group 3 VRC Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, securing himself a run in this year’s $10m Gr1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).
McGaw Firms For Coolmore Stud Stakes After G2 Danehill Win
Considered an outside chance in betting markets, Emma-Lee and David Browne’s I Am Immortal gelding McGaw dented the reputation of a few leading Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes contenders with a fighting win in the $300,000 Gr2 VRC Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.