Co-trainer Peter Snowden is confident the team can have Bondi peaking for his Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic bid next month, which will be secured with a top three run at Wyong Racecourse on Thursday.
Blake Shinn continues his association with Bondi in the 2017 Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic this Thursday. Photo: Sarah Ebbett.
The Team Snowden-trained Snitzel colt is one of just eight juveniles engaged for this summer’s Restricted Listed $100,000 Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1100m).
The race is a key lead-up to the $2 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) race in Queensland on January 13, a double last completed by subsequent Golden Slipper winner Capitalist (2015-16).
Bondi currently sits No. 19 on the Magic Millions Classic order of entry for the Gold Coast feature, which has a capacity 16 starters.
Snowden said the colt, who has only won $28,200 in total career prize money, would likely need to finish in the money on Thursday to guarantee his run in the $2 million event that they have been targeting all summer.
“He probably needs to run in the first three on Thursday to make sure he gets into the race. If he can do that, I won’t run him again,” Snowden told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“I’ll just trial him to have him at his peak at the Gold Coast.
“He is a big strong horse that I think will be a running miler in time.
“He is a very good on-pace, strong-going two-year-old which has his share of talent.”
One debut at Randwick in late September, Bondi placed second to Performer in the Listed Breeders Plate (1000m) with Blake Shinn aboard.
Shinn enjoyed a three-meeting leniency on a recent suspension, meaning he is free to continue his association with the up-and-coming two-year-old in the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Snowden has been careful not to over-race Bondi whose only public appearance since his spring debut was a second in an 845m trial at Wyong on December 4.
“Everyone seems to have an opinion on the trial but he was there for a purpose and did what we wanted,” Snowden said.
“People don’t know what we wanted from that trial.
“We really haven’t done a lot with him since the Breeders Plate, and the target race is still a long way off.
“You have to push them pretty hard to get to that race and then peak them on very hot day, so you have to have something in the tank.
“Bondi comes to hand very quickly so he doesn’t need a lot of work to be ready for this race.
“He had that trial and a couple of good gallops and galloped very well on Saturday morning, so I’m very happy with him.”
In the current Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic odds for Thursday at Ladbrokes.com.au, Bondi is the $4.20 third favourite.
The unraced Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained filly Terminology has opened the $2.80 favourite for her debut run after a brilliant 10 length trial victory at Rosehill on December 8.
The other major player challenging for top spot in the markets is David Atkins’ Spirit Of Boom colt Jonker whose only start to date produced a three length win over 900m at Newcastle earlier in the month.
Terminology, Jonker and Bondi all share the second line of futures Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic odds paying $9 each.
Those all-in markets are led by the Queensland Ef Troop after the Tony Gollan-trained gelding easily accounted for his Doomben rivals last Saturday with a five length win in the Listed $100,000 Phelan Ready Stakes (1100m).