Talented Kiwi sprinter Bounding will continue her racing career in Australia under the care of Team Snowden.
Peter Snowden will have the opportunity to train Group 1 winning sprinter Bounding for the rest of her career. Photo by: Taron Clarke
Foot issues have plagued Bounding in 2015 and she has not been seen at the races since she finished second behind Vain Queen in the Group 3 G.H. Mumm Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on November 6.
Co-trainer Ken and Bev Kelso elected to send Bounding back to the spelling paddock without a start in the summer to save her for a spring campaign, but owner Gary Harding told The Informant yesterday that he had made the tough decision to transfer the Lonhro mare to Team Snowden because he believes there are more options for her in Australia.
“It’s been a hard decision to make after Ken and Bev have done such a wonderful job with her, but the reality is that her options in New Zealand are very limited as opposed to what’s available in Australia,” Harding said.
“She has already shown that she’s up to their best sprinters and by being based there we can pick and choose what races to run her in.
“I spoke to Peter Snowden to see what he thought about her prospects over there and he said she was obviously competitive and he would be happy to get her.
“It’s extremely exciting for Linda and I, but having said that, the success we’ve had with her already has been tremendous and the Kelsos have certainly been no small part of that.”
Bounding started her racing career in October of 2012 and she won the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes (1100m) at Pukekohe in just her second race start before she finished in both the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and the Group 1 Haunui Farm Diamond Stakes (1200m) at the end of her two-year-old campaign.
The four-year-old recorded back-to-back wins in the Group 3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m), but was beaten as a short-priced favourite in the Group 1 1000 Guineas (1600m).
Bounding was given an opportunity against the older horses for the first time in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1200m) on New Year’s Day last year and she was finally able to record a win at the highest level of racing.
The Kelso team elected to send Bounding to Australia during The Championships last year and she finished a narrow second behind Sidestep in the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m).
Bounding returned to Australia for a spring campaign without another race start in New Zealand and she finished second behind Chautauqua in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 4 before she had no luck in running when she finished at the tail of the field in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 24.
