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Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden laid the foundation for a Magic Millions Classic bid by their highly-regarded youngster Bondi when they sent the colt to Wyong for a barrier trial on Monday.
The decision to give Bondi a trial at the provincial track signals the Snowdens intention to start the two-year-old in the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions over 1000m on December 21.
The Wyong race is well established as a major guide to the $2 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast in January.
Karuta Queen (2010), Unencumbered (2013) and Capitalist (2015) all won the Wyong race on their way to winning the Magic Millions Classic. The Snowden-trained Capitalist also won the Golden Slipper Stakes in 2015.Bondi, a $400,000 yearling by champion sire Snitzel, is currently 15th on the order of the entry for the Magic Millions Classic on January 13 but heads the early betting market after his impressive debut at Randwick in September.
After a Canterbury trial win in September Bondi debuted with a game second to the ruling Golden Slipper favourite Performer in the Listed Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on September 30, an effort that earned him $28,200 prizemoney.Bondi finished second in Monday’s trial over 845m with Blake Shinn on board, chasing home the unraced filly Lilith on a soft track.
Lilith led on the inside with Shinn content to sit a half length back on her outside with both youngsters travelling well within themselves. Shinn gave Bondi one crack with the whip in the straight and the colt responded with the margin on the line less than a half head.The South Australian-trained filly La Pomme De Pin currently heads the Magic Millions Classic order of entry after winning the rich Clockwise Classic at Ballarat on November 25.
The Wyong Magic Millions is also on the agenda for the Lloyd Kennewell-trained La Pomme De Pin on her way to the Gold Coast.Last Sunday’s impressive Newcastle winner Jonker is another Magic Millions candidate set to use the Wyong race as his lead-up to the MM Classic.
