Bjorn Baker has warned punters not to drop off his mare Bonny O'Reilly despite her being beaten into third by Prompt Response in the Listed Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) at Doomben.
The Sydney trainer insists his mission to win the Group I Tatts Tiara (1350m) at Doomben in a fortnight remains on track.
Bonny O'Reilly ($5.50) jumped from barrier 16, spending plenty of petrol tickets early and ran out of gas to be beaten a long neck by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott filly Prompt Response ($4.60).
Waterhouse/Bott stablemate Mr True Love ($16) led and finished a brave second.
"I thought Bonny O'Reilly was very good today and it is full steam ahead to the Tatts Tiara," Baker said.
"We had to do some work from the wide barrier and that told at the end of the race."
However there was no taking away from the performance of Prompt Return who swamped Bonny O'Reilly and My True Love in the final stages.
Bott indicated Prompt Return, ridden by Tommy Berry, would push onto the Tiara and insisted she would be hard to beat.
"She has been knocking on the door for a while and it's great to see her rewarded for her consistency," Bott said.
"The Tatts Tiara has always been the grand final for her.
"We gave her a little freshen up after racing at Scone because we thought she had plenty to offer.
"She will be right in the Tatts Tiara."
Favourite Raiment ($4.40) missed the start and never threatened, finishing seventh.
