Bonneval to Visit I Am Invincible

Media Release - Monday October 8

Waikato Stud has won the race to purchase the two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year and multiple Group One winner Bonneval.

Bonneval - Grant CourtneyThe Matamata nursery acted quickly when her retirement was announced last week and dug deep to secure the daughter of Makfi.

"She is on her way to Yarraman Park to be covered by I Am Invincible," stud principal Mark Chittick said.

"She's a beautifully-bred mare and while one mare won't turn it around, it is a bit of a reversal of our top mares going overseas.

"It's a little bit of a turning of the tide and we're in this for the long haul.

"Bonneval is from a wonderful family and there are a lot of fillies working for that family."

She was a $150,000 Karaka yearling purchase in 2015 for Terry Jarvis, Alastair Lawrence and John Rattray.

Bonneval was placed with Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and was a debut winner in the autumn of the following year.

Six starts later she triumphed in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and crossed the Tasman to add the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) to her record.

Bonneval won the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) 12 months ago, but subsequently suffered a suspensory ligament injury.

Advertisement

Following two below-par efforts this spring, the decision was taken to retire the five-year-old.

"Mike Rennie, our newly-appointed Business Manager, played a big part in the purchase," Chittick said.

"Without a word of a lie, the idea was thrown out there about 1pm on Friday and three or four hours later the deal was all but done.

"Obviously, John, Terry and Alastair identified Bonneval as a yearling and they've had a great amount of fun.

"Murray and Andrew did an incredible job and now it's up to us."

Bonneval will officially be in the ownership of Chittick's father Garry.

"It's great that at his age and stage he still has the passion for the game and we've got another beautiful mare in the broodmare band," Chittick said.

"These mares don't come cheaply and we are competing against international competition.

"Hopefully, the purchase will be of benefit to the New Zealand breeding industry and to us. It was great to get the deal done." - NZ RAcing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Invincible Colt on Target for Blue Diamond
The open juvenile event at Randwick on Saturday always looked good on paper with some highly rated fillies and two expensive colts engaged and at the winning post it was I Am Invincible’s Rulership that claimed the victory and he did it in style!
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
I Am Invincible's Media Sensation back with a bang at Te Rapa
Last season’s Gr1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner, Media Sensation made a successful start to her four-year-old campaign when she eased clear of race favourite Ferrando to take out the Listed Legacy Lodge Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
First to 100
It’s probably no surprise to anyone that this stallion is the first to sire 100 Australian winners this season.
$1,050,000 Colt for I Am Invincible
Tipped as one of the stars on day one at Magic Millions, the I Am Invincible colt from Group II winning Zabeel mare Adrift duly set the sale ring alight when selling for $1,050,00 with Guy Mulcaster signing the docket in conjunction with Waller Racing.