Snowden stable putting Bondi to the test at Wyong

CHAMPION trainer Peter Snowden is keen to find out just how good Bondi is when he takes on a star-studded field for the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions (1100m) at Wyong today.

“Bondi is promising, I’m not sure if he is A-Grade yet but we will know more after this race,’’ Snowden said.

“Some two-year-olds keep on improving and others level out quickly.

“You don’t really know until you run them and that is when you can mark the card.

“The Wyong race will be a good test for Bondi, he is up against a small but select field.’’

The $2 million Magic Millions picture will become a little clearer after four of the top six in early betting for next month’s glamour Gold Coast race, Bondi, Jonker, Terminology and La Pomme De Pin, clash at Wyong today.

Boom first starter Terminology is early TAB Fixed Odds favourite for the Wyong race at $2.60 with brilliant Max Lees Classic winner Jonker next at $3.10 and Bondi pressing at $4.40.

Bondi boasts one of the strongest juvenile formlines of the season so far when he ran a close second at his only start behind Performer in the Breeders Plate at Randwick on September 30.

“It was a good Breeders Plate, both horses showed above average ability that day,’’ Snowden said.

“But I’ve been happy with how our bloke (Bondi) has come back this preparation. He looks in very good order.’’ Snowden, who co-trains with his son Paul, took Bondi to Wyong for a barrier trial earlier this month to prepare for the colt’s return to racing today. “We only gave Bondi a ‘soft’ trial so he can have a look at the track,’’ Snowden said.

“But he has come through that well and we will see what he does (tomorrow) before deciding if he needs another run or maybe a barrier trial before the Magic Millions.

“He is a big, solid colt but he is quite precocious. He’s been very good to handle, quite straight forward from day one, he is very sound and we have had no issues with him.’’

The Snowdens know what is required to win the Magic Millions having prepared the brilliant Capitalist to claims the Wyong lead-up before his brilliant Gold Coast win last year.

Capitalist then trained on to win the Golden Slipper later that season.

Deladies Boy is the Snowden stable’s only other Wyong runner today with the three-year-old colt resuming in the Benchmark 73 Handicap (1350m).

“He is a nice colt but is more a mile-plus horse,’’ Snowden said.

“He has returned in good order but I would think this might be too short for him.’’