Caulfield Cup favourite passes vet check but stablemate poses threat

Ben Dorries - Sunday October 15

Murray Baker has allayed injury concerns over Caulfield Cup favourite Bonneval but he thinks stablemate Jon Snow is just as much of a threat in Saturday's rich 2400m contest.

Trainer Murray Baker says Caulfield Cup favourite Bonneval is fine to run, but he likes stablemate Jon Snow (pictured) just as much in the Cup. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Kiwi trainer Baker said his vet found Bonneval was "as good as gold" on Sunday morning after the mare was found to be lame in her nearside foreleg and had lacerations after being beaten into sixth by Gailo Chop in the Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m).

Bonneval is still likely to have to pass further vet inspections but Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman, insists the Caulfield Cup favourite is fit to take her place in the field.

However Baker says Australian Derby winner Jon Snow, who finished third in the Ladbrokes Stakes after being three and four wide on pace in the early stages, is just as attractive as Bonneval as a Caulfield Cup proposition.

Bonneval is the $6 favourite in latest Caulfield Cup markets while Jon Snow is $15.

"I know Bonneval is much shorter in the market, but they both rate about equal to me, I really couldn't pick between them," Baker said.

"I was really impressed by Jon Snow on Saturday, he did quite a bit of work in the run and he beat Bonneval home.

"Jon Snow is a Derby winner so you know he will be fine at the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup."

Punters who had backed Bonneval in long-range Caulfield Cup markets would have been sweating bullets after Racing Victoria vets reported the injury concerns after she was beaten more than four lengths in the Ladbrokes Stakes.

However Baker insists there is no issue that will keep her from taking her place in the $3million Caulfield Cup.

"We had our vet look at her and trotted her up and she was as good as gold," Baker said.

"The laceration is just a pretty superficial thing, she is fine.

"Nothing really panned out for her on Saturday, she was always going to get well back and she wasn't going to get around them the way that race was run.''

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Coolmore Announce Euro 2025 Fees
Coolmore have announced fees for their 20 strong European sire roster with three new additions City of Troy (Justify), Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact)and Henry Longfellow (Dubawi) and a significant increase for Wootton Bassett, who is currently in Australia.
Melbourne Cup Winner for Extreme Choice – Rare Slice of History
This year’s $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) produced a genuinely amazing fairytale result for the connections of five year-old Extreme Choice gelding Knight’s Choice, but part of that fairytale is his sire Extreme Choice, who has carved out something seriously special as being only the second sire in history to produce the winner of a Golden Slipper and a Melbourne Cup.