Reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) exited a Monday trial at Cambridge in good form, racenet.com.au reported. The Murray Baker/Andrew Forsman trainee, successful three times at the highest level, including the New Zealand Oaks, Australian Oaks and Underwood S., is headed back across the Tasman Sea for a start in the G1 Chipping Norton S. on Mar. 3. She ran third in the 1200-metre heat (1:11.20, fast-forward to 3:30 for the heat). In her last racecourse appearance, she was 14th in the G1 Caulfield Cup on Oct. 21.
“She ran on nicely and she probably needs another trial before she races in Sydney over a mile in the Chipping Norton,” Baker told racenet.com.au.
Te Akau Racing's G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas hero Embellish (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) and G1SW Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands {Aus}) are also bound for Australia. The former was a narrow runner-up in the Listed Karaka 3YO Classic on Jan. 27 and will contest the G3 CS Hayes S. over 1400 metres on Mar. 17 with Opie Bosson aboard, while the last out G3 Mongolian Khan Trophy heroine will take her place in the G2 Light Fingers S. over 1200 metres at Randwick the same day.
“Unfortunately, they are both running on the same day, so Blake Shinn has been booked to ride Melody Belle,” Jamie Richards, who trains with Stephen Autridge told NZ Racing Desk. “That will be his lead-up to the [G1] Australian Guineas a fortnight later. “We're really pleased with him and everything is going right. She's bounced through her Ellerslie win really well and it's a nice series for her in Sydney.”
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