After winning last week's ATC Australian Derby on John Snow, Hugh Bowman again teamed up with Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman to complete the Classic double with Makfi (GB) filly Bonneval in Saturday's $1,000,000 Group I James Boag's Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The race was turned on its head in the early stages when the expected leader Lasqueti Spirit was lethargic from the barriers.
Normal service was resumed Jay Ford worked his way to the front on Lasqueti Spirit and gradually increased the tempo.
Set to an all-out drive at the 600 metres, leader Lasqueti Spirit had most off the bit although Tye Angland on Perfect Rhyme was awake to the move and was in a challenging position on the home turn.
As those two distanced themselves from the chasing pack, Bowman was warming Bonneval into her work.
Still with five lengths to make up at the 300 metres, Bonneval reeled in the leaders so quickly Bowman had time to sit up for the photo.
The daughter of Makfi (GB) had four and a half lengths to spare from Perfect Rhyme (Poet's Voice) with Lasqueti Spirit (Beneteau) Battling on bravely for third a long-neck further back. (photos Steve Hart).
It was the fourth consecutive win for Bonneval.
The sequence began in the Group II Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic at Te Rapa, then the Group III Lowland Stakes at Hastings before earning a trip across the Tasman when defeating
It was Baker's 20th Group I in Australia and Bowman's fourth Australian Oaks after Daffodil in 2009,
"I hope she might be a weight for age horse and we will have to have a look at something for her in the spring maybe, it's a long way away," Baker said.
"I was a bit worried about the ground but the horse is in terrific order, there are two tracks at Cambridge so the way of going wasn't an issue."
Bowman said the race did not go to plan in the early stages.
"It was a funny race, I had to make a few decisions today. I expected to be first four with Lasqueti Spirit out in front," Bowman said.
"When it was slow away I thought, what do I do here? Do I press on or do I just be patient? That's exactly what I did and this filly didn't let me down.
"I was humming on the turn, but I did have a good 150 metres to
Owned by Terry Jarvis, Alister Lawrence and John Rattray, Bonneval advances her record to 5 wins and 1 third from 8 starts with earnings of $989,735.
Bred by Peter Newsom, Mac Whitehouse and Tony Wales's City Bloodstock, Bonneval was consigned to the 2015 NZB Premier Yearling Sale where she was knocked down to Baker Bloodstock for $150,000.
She is one of six winners, and four
Bonneval's half-sister Full Of Spirit (Flying Spur) won the Group III Adrian Knox Stakes before finishing fourth in the 2012 ATC Oaks won by Streama while another half-sister, Group III Manawatu Classic winner Lady Cumquat (Duke Of Marmalade), finished third in 2014 Adrian Knox Stakes won by Arabian Gold.
Rounding out the four stakes winners for Imposingly is Listed Gold Coast Bracelet winner Imposing Lass, a full sister to Bonneval.
A yearling filly by Epsom Derby winner Camelot out of Imposingly was passed in short of her $110,000 reserve at this year's NZB Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka.
A three-quarter-sister to NZ Derby winner St Reims and dual Group I winner Champagne, Imposingly has a yearling filly by Cox Plate winner Adelaide (IRE) and was covered by Makfi (GB) again last spring. This is the same family that also produced Charmont to win the Group I NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Rapa on Saturday. Charmont is from a daughter of Champagne. Click here to read about her.
