Bondi Lockdown a beauty

Horsham owner-trainerdriver Aaron Dunn’s $20,000 APG Sales purchase Bondi Lockdown scored an impressive victory on debut at Laidlaw Park, Stawell.

The two-year-old colt started a heavily supported $1.80 favourite on the strength of a solid trial performance at Ballarat a fortnight earlier and did not let the punters down – although he gave them some anxious moments on the final bend.

“Yes he did go very roughly for a bit. I’m not exactly sure why but when he balanced up again, sprinted nicely to the line,” Dunn said.

With Dunn holding the son of Somebeachsomewhere USA together around the turn, Bonnie Belle with Greg Sugars aboard had kicked eight metres clear and favourite backers were wondering if the bird had flown.

They had little cause for concern however, as Bondi Lockdown quickly made up the margin and at the post was a half-length clear and running away from the leader with a further three lengths to the rest of the field.

“We thought that he’s the best young horse we have had in the stable for a long time. He’s been pretty much a natural right from the start,” Dunn said.

Bondi Lockdown is set to race again at Terang tonight.

“I didn’t really want to back him up again so quickly, but who knows what’s to come with the COVID-19 restrictions? He might even go for a bit of a break after that,” Dunn said.

Dunn made it a double later in the afternoon when five-year-old gelding Vanity Bay led from barrier to post in a 2180-metre pace.

Polkemmet owner Mike Ryan bought Vanity Bay for $1000 as a tried but un-raced conveyance.

“The horse had already been through a couple of stables before Mike saw him advertised,” Dunn said.

Vanity Bay qualified to race at Ararat back in December and posted victories at Maryborough and Wedderburn from his first five starts then headed to the paddock for a spell. He resumed racing in June with a sub-par effort at Terang but in four outings since has notched up two wins at Stawell.

“He’s done well with four wins from nine starts. It gets harder from here on though, we’ll have to see if he can keep measuring up,” Dunn said.