Bonaria has the opportunity record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2014 Coolmore Classic (1200m) and trainer Pat Hyland could not be happier with the in-form mare after she performed strongly at trackwork this morning.
Bonaria stamped herself as a Coolmore Classic contender with an impressive win in the Schweppervescence Trophy at Flemington on March 1. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Hyland, who rides Bonaria in her trackwork each morning, has been thrilled with the form of his star mare since she returned from the spelling paddock; with the daughter of Redoute’s Choice finishing third in the Group 3 Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 8 before taking out both the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on February 22 and the Group 3 Schweppervescence Trophy (1600m) at Flemington on March 1.
Bonaria will head to Sydney tomorrow and Hyland told TVN this morning that the Group 3 winner is in excellent condition ahead of the Coolmore Classic this weekend.
“She will float up tomorrow and she’s in great shape,” Hyland said.
“She worked pretty special this morning, I can tell you that.”
Bonaria will be having her third start in a Group 1 event in the Coolmore Classic and has previously failed to fire at the highest level of racing; finishing 15th behind Rebel Dane in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and tenth behind Red Tracer in the Myer Classic (1600m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.
Hyland admits that Bonaria will need to be at her very best to be competitive against the strong Coolmore Stakes field, but the veteran trainer is confident that the five-year-old can perform well and press on to the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 19.
“It’s not going to be easy and it’ll be a hot field, but she’s going really well and certainly deserves a shot at it,” Hyland said.
“If she runs well on Saturday we’ll take her back up for the Queen Of The Turf.”
Bonaria will carry 53 kilograms in the Coolmore Classic, six kilograms below the top-weight Red Tracer, and will be ridden by Tim Clark when she makes her Sydney racing debut this weekend.
Hyland is chasing his first win at Group 1 level since Zarita won both the South Australian Derby (2500m) and Australasian Oaks (2000m) in 2008.
