Bonnie repays faith in spades

A BOLD frontrunning ride from leading Townsville jockey Bonnie Thomson – that is usually a winning formula.

It didn’t take long to prove just how good a formula it is when she partnered Innisfail outsider Exceedingly Kool at Cannon Park yesterday.

The seven-year-old had not won since the first month of 2019 but was crunched late on in betting before the Open Handicap (950m) and just got home by a nose.

Exceedingly Kool was as much as $8.50 yesterday morning before winning at $3.80 on the tote, with $4.40 being offered as a fixed price.

As she likes to do, Townsville-based jockey Thomson shot the Renee Schluenztrained gelding to the head of the field and said “catch me if you can”.

Cannon Park specialist Desert Cowboy, who opened as favourite before drifting late, did his best to run Exceedingly Kool down in the closing stages but just missed.

“I did not give Bonnie any instructions, I let her just work it out. I had the faith in her to do that and she did,” Schluenz said.

The bay gelding can lead at times in his races, or he can take a sit.

But, with Thomson on board and jumping well from a wide gate, getting to the front was always the best option.

“I put him against some really high-class horses last preparation and he did so well against them,” Schluenz said.

“I am absolutely happy with him.”

Thomson praised the training effort of the Cassowary Coast-based Schluenz, who only has a small team of horses but they are always competitive around the North.

“Exceedingly Kool been racing against tough fields.

“Not saying today’s was not very strong, but you know with no weight on his back he was always going to be a chance with a bold frontrunning ride,” Thomson said.

“Renee is a good little trainer she has just run into a few issues with jockeys at times.”

Exceedingly Kool was not the only winner yesterday to land big bets, as My Girl Poppy ran the race of her life to take out the Maiden Handicap (1250m).

In her first start for almost a year and stepping out for the first time with local trainer Scott Cooper, the bay mare ran in the top three for the first time in her career from nine starts, going on to win on FNQ debut.

Ridden by jockey Shohei Kaya, My Girl Poppy opened up at $34 and won at $15, from Lormez Love. had pretty