Bonita Aurelia You Beauty
9 April, 2021
Improved by her fresh-up third, Bonita Aurelia (3 f Sweynesse - Cassie May, by Red Clubs) was too good in the $25,000 Lawnmaster 3YO 1400 metres on 9 April at Awapuni.
Winner of the Woburn Farm 2YO Classic (Gr. 3, 1200m) and third in the Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) as a two-year-old, she resumed with notable effort for third against good opponents in the 3YO 1200 metres on 20 March at Tauranga.
The writing was on the wall for opponents once rider Danielle Johnson crossed to lead on Bonita Aurelia and after buttoning off to pinch cheap sectionals she raced clear inside the final 200m to win easily.
It requires a good horse to achieve what she did as a two-year-old and it appears that trainer Jamie Richards has her right back to her best.
“It was a smart ride, positive with the inside bend being used, and she travelled well,†Richards said.
“She had good form as a two-year-old, has been training well, and with improvement off her first-up run she was always going to be competitive down there.
“Hopefully the win will help her confidence and we can make a plan toward getting more black type for her owners Sonia Waddell and Greg Trestrail.
“Also, thanks and well done to Sam Bergerson, who has been away for the week with the horses and he and the staff have done a great job with the stable runners.â€
On Dead4 footing, Bonita Aurelia ran the 1400 metres in 1:24.8 and paid $3.40 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote.
A bargain buy ($500) as a weanling at Karaka, Bonita Aurelia was bred by vet Stephen Christopher and owned by Waddell and her farm manager.
A daughter of former All Black Alistair Scown, she won a Silver Medal at the 2001 World Rowing Championships in the quadruple sculls. She is married to Olympic Gold Medallist and World Champion Single Sculler Rob Waddell and owns horse agistment property Riverdale Farm at Tamahere, Hamilton.
“We were thrilled with the win and it's great to see her looking so good, so strong and racing so positively,†Waddell said.
“She spelled incredibly well here at Riverdale (Farm) and we felt she was capable of recapturing her two-year-old form. You can't help but be impressed by what Jamie (Richards) has accomplished. The results speak for themselves, and I guess what we really love with what he's done with Bonita is that he's clearly unlocked her potential. She's looks happy, she's thriving and she's so strong.
“She was very strong as a weanling, strengthened again heading into autumn as a three-year-old and we're incredibly grateful to Jamie for what he's done with her.
“We're also grateful to Danielle (Johnson). She won the Woburn Classic on her and great that she's stuck with her for another win at three. She's backed her and I thought she gave her an absolutely superb ride today. She can handle a bit of cut in the ground and I think as we move further into autumn she'll appreciate the tracks even more.
“I have to give a huge amount of credit to my main man on the farm, Greg Trestrail. He picked her out at the weanling sale. When she arrived here off the truck, I saw her and asked if he'd sell a share in her. She was a magnificent looking filly. He did incredibly well to select her and we're having a lot of fun.
“One of our vets, Stephen Christopher, bred her and he still has the mare, so it's a fun journey and we're getting to share it with a lot of people and really enjoying it.â€
With the Woburn Farm 2YO Classic, Bonita Aurelia became both the first winner and stakes' winner for Novara Park stallion Sweynesse (Lonhro), whose progeny have now won 17 races, including three stakes' victories.
Bonita Aurelia was strapped by Sam Bergerson.
Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz
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