Bonham topples favourite

Talented three-year-old Bonham showed she is a filly of the highest quality when winning the group I Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.

Rated as the main danger to $1.80 favourite Brando, the Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard-trained filly earned her victory the hard way as she sat three-wide for the majority of the race after starting from an outside barrier.

Taken forward by rider Lisa Allpress to challenge for the lead rounding the home bend, Bonham kicked clear early in the straight before holding out the late charge of Brando to capture her fourth win from just five starts for owner Gary Harding.

Benner admitted he had his concerns during the race, but trusted in the ability of both horse and rider to get the job done.

‘‘She’s good and she had to be today,’’ he said. ‘‘Lisa tried to ride her positively with cover, but she lost that and had to go forward at the 700m.

Allpress also noted she had her own concerns when she found herself trapped out wide and fearing for what might be said by Benner and Wynyard if she didn’t do something about the situation.

‘‘I wasn’t having a lot of luck three-deep and I could hear Johno and Hollie in my head,‘‘ she said. ‘‘I thought I need to trust my horse as she was fit and ready for today and a very fast mare, so I knew they would have trouble coming from behind her.

‘‘I think I’ve lost my voice from screaming at her as she doesn’t need the whip, she just needs a push to get her over the line.

NZ Racing Desk