Last start Underwood Stakes winner Bonneval has been given the visitor’s draw with the outside barrier in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Bonneval,above, has drawn the outside barrier in the Ladbrokes Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Bonneval,above, has drawn the outside barrier in the Ladbrokes Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained Kiwi mare Bonneval is chasing her seventh win on the trot and is coming off a last start win in the Group 1 $750,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on October 1.

Bonneval is a dual Oaks winner and after winning the Group 1 NZ$300,000 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham in New Zealand in March went to Sydney to win the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick during the Autumn Carnival.

The new season four year old mare then resumed for the Spring with a win in the Group 2 $250,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on September 9 before stretching her winning sequence to six with her victory in the Underwood Stakes.

Melbourne jockey Damian Lane was on board for the mare’s Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes win and finds himself back on in the Ladbrokes Stakes replacing Hugh Bowman who was in the saddle for her Underwood Stakes win.

Bowman will be riding at Randwick in Sydney on Saturday and his impressive book of rides includes Clearly Innocent in the $10m The Everest (1200m).

Bonneval has been installed the $3 favourite for the Ladbrokes Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au and will be up against $3.20 second pick Hartnell again after they finished the quinella in the Underwood Stakes.

Glyn Schofield is the new jockey on Hartnell who has drawn barrier seven and the James Cummings trained seven year old is searching for his first Group 1 win this preparation after being runner up at his last two starts.

Prior to his second to Bonneval in the Underwood Stakes, Hartnell had to be content with the runner’s up cheque behind Humidor in the Group 1 $750,000 PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 16.

Bonneval’s stablemate Jon Snow was also out of luck at the barrier draw and will jump from barrier nine in the Ladbrokes Stakes with Stephen Baster holding the reins.

Jon Snow has also struck form at the right time and is coming off a last start win in the Group 3 $200,000 MSC Signs JRA Cup (2040m) at The Valley on September 29.

Champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien will have two runners in the Ladbrokes Stakes field, Johannes Vermeer (Katelyn Mallyon, barrier 6) and The Taj Mahal (Damien Oliver,, barrier 2).

Johannes Vermeer was a winner two starts back at the Curragh in Ireland in the Group 3 €65,000 International Stakes (2011m) followed by a second in the Group 3 €63,000 Ballyroan Stakes (2414m) at Leopardstown in Ireland on August 10.

The Taj Mahal has competed at Group 1 level at his last four starts and two starts back finished second to Oscar Performance in the Group 1 US$405,00 Secretariat Stakes (2012m) at Arlington in the United States on August 12.

Fellow Irish trainer Willie Mullins will saddle up Riven Light (Glen Boss, barrier 4) who is a winner at his last two starts in Ireland at Tipperary and Listowel.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.