Kiwi Stars Trial in Style

Media Release - Tuesday August 14

Murray Baker couldn't be happier with the performances of Zacada and Jon Snow at Monday's Te Teko trials, but has put a public hit-out for stable star Bonneval on hold until next week.

Jon SnowBonneval's countdown to another Australian campaign was planned to commence with a trial at Avondale on Tuesday, and the multiple Group One winner was on track for the appearance, until the wet weather upset the apple-cart.

"We've decided to wait and run her in one of those open trials before the first race at Taupo next week," Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman, said.

"With a heavy11 track to start with at Avondale and that's without any more rain, we wouldn't have got a real line on her.

"She's coming along well and has been working with Jon Snow and he trialled well at Te Teko."

Bonneval has been off the scene since last February and provided she acquits herself well in next Wednesday's Taupo trial she will continue along a path aimed at major weight-for-age events in Melbourne.

Jon Snow and Zacada are also being prepared for the Melbourne Spring Carnival with the Gr.1 A$7.3 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 6 on the horizon and both shaped very well at Monday's trials.

Jon Snow, ridden by Matt Cameron, led in his 1030m trial and was taken on near the turn then stuck to the inside and kicked on strongly. He went to the finish with his ears pricked and was nabbed on the line by Te Akau Shark.

"It was his first decent hit-out since the Caulfield Cup," Baker said. "He didn't see the other horse coming and could have won the trial.

"He's a big, powerful horse and is coming up really well."

Jon Snow has won three times on his two trips to Australia. He landed the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 ATC Derby (2400m) in Sydney as an autumn three-year-old and won the Gr.3 JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley last September before finishing third in the Gr.1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m).

"He'll either kick off at Hastings (September 1) or go to Melbourne for the Memsie Stakes (1400m) the same day at Caulfield.

"We really need a bit of rain in Melbourne for him. Caulfield and Flemington are such good-draining tracks now.

Advertisement

"We're keeping our options open and the beauty with him is we can throw him on a plane at the last minute and not worry about him. We know he travels well."

Though the Melbourne Cup is on Jon Snow's radar, Baker believes the son of Iffraaj could be better suited to the 2400m of the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup.

Zacada, on the other hand, is proven at 3200m and the Melbourne Cup is the ultimate mission for the Zabeel six-year-old.

He finished fourth in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) and went down by a nose last start when beaten by Who Shot Thebarman in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m).

Like Jon Snow, Zacada was making his first public appearance since an Australian campaign when he trialled at Te Teko and he passed the test with flying colours.

After being last on settling, Zacada looped the field and finished strongly to score by a length and a quarter from Big Mike.

"That was a top trial," Baker said. "He showed a bit of dash and he can go to Hawke's Bay for the open mile on the first day.

"We'll then look to get him to Melbourne. We know he can stay and he's tough."

The Baker and Forsman juggernaut rolled-on at the trials at Avondale on Tuesday, with a number of quality gallopers pleasing.

Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) winner Saint Emilion defeated Group Three-winning stablemate Highlad in a 1200m heat. Meanwhile, talented four-year-old Mongolian Marshal won his 1000m heat in solid fashion, and three-year-old filly Rubira caught the eye when closing for third in her heat over 1000m. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Wootton Bassett Set to Blast Out of Winter
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.
First Foal for Hilal Delights Grangewilliam Stud
The first foal by Grangewilliam Stud’s Group Two winner and multiple Group One performer Hilal arrived on Thursday morning with a filly born out of the well-related No Nay Never mare La Frox.
Extremely Good Week!
It’s been a memorable week for Star Thoroughbreds having sold their multiple Group winning mare Olentia for $2.6million and then the purple and white stars were back in the winner’s circle at Canterbury on Wednesday carried by 3YO Extreme Choice colt Estremo.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 6
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Zoustar Entering the Zenith
The dictionary tells us Zenith is an astronomical term —describing the highest point in an arc travelled by a star, planet or another celestial body- and in the case of this story it’s planet Zoustar!
Racing’s Night of Champions August 28
45 of the top horses in Australia will be recognised for outstanding performances during the 2024/2025 racing season at Racing’s Night of Champions.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 7
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Godolphin Winner for Maher
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher saddled his first winner for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday and he did it with a blue-blood colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.