Baker backs his charge
One-time Caulfield Cup favourite Bonneval has been cleared by Racing Victoria veterinarians to take her place in Saturday’s $3.2 million race.
Two Racing Victoria (RV) veterinarians inspected the reigning New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year on Thursday afternoon and cleared her fit to start in the Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Baker’s vets had passed the mare but RV chief steward Terry Bailey said she needed to satisfy the regulatory body.
Racing Victoria veterinarians said on Wednesday Bonneval was grade 1 out of 5 lame in her right foreleg which is at the low end of the scale.
They examined her again on Thursday afternoon but both Baker and jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who has ridden her twice in work this week, say she is striding freely.
Stuff understands Racing Victoria veterinarians have taken scans of Bonneval’s suspensory on Thursday morning at Flemington and those scans came back clear.
"She’s in excellent health and we’re very happy with her this week,’’ Baker said. ‘‘She’s fit and seems good as gold.’’
Baker said he was surprised by the attention surrounding Bonneval’s fitness.
‘‘To be fair I am a little bit surprised because if she was sore we wouldn’t be persevering with her,’’ he said.
McEvoy said in his opinion the mare was ‘‘free as a bell’’.
‘‘I’d be surprised if she’s not right to take her spot on Saturday,’’ McEvoy said.
Bailey said RV veterinarians would inspect the mare again on Thursday afternoon and confer with the stable’s veterinarians.
He told Baker on Wednesday that the star New Zealand mare had been inspected at Flemington and had been found to be lame.
Bonneval is out to $8 after being as short as $5.50 for the Caulfield Cup. If Bonneval fails the inspection, she could be given until the 7.30am scratching time on Saturday morning to be passed fit.
Bonneval won the ATC Australian and New Zealand Oaks last season and started her spring campaign with wins in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and Group I Underwood Stakes in Melbourne.
She ran on from back in the field for sixth in last Saturday’s Caulfield Stakes.
A stewards report after Saturday’s race said the mare was lame in the near-foreleg and had a laceration to her off-hind pastern.
Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman in New Zealand, also has Australian Derby winner Jon Snow in the $3 million handicap.
He would like some rain for both horses to enhance their chances.
‘‘I can’t really split them because Jon Snow’s been going really well,’’ Baker said.
‘‘He’s a Derby winner at 2400 metres which is the distance of the Caulfield Cup, so hopefully he’s right there.’’