Racing: Fantastic filly defies odds, pundits

Co-trainer Andrew Forsman (left) rides the emotion with jockey Matthew Cameron after Bonneval's half-head victory in Hastings yesterday. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

Jockey Matthew Cameron had no qualms in his appraisal of Bonneval last night, rating the horse as capable of winning two Melbourne Cups soon after nudging her past the post by half a head in Hastings.

Andrew Forsman, who co-trains the 3-year-old filly with Murray Baker, reined in expectations soon after to clarify Bonneval was earmarked for the group 1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 18.

"She made a very big effort. She had a lot to do in the last 200 metres and I didn't think she was quite going to get there because of the way the track has been playing - it's hard to make ground so she's dug in deep and she's a classy filly," said Forsman last night as the offspring of Makfi eclipsed Savvy Dreams and Leith Innes in the group 3 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings.

The Cambridge trainer clarified it wasn't the "perfect track underfoot" that was the issue but "the pattern of racing" that made it hard for horses to make ground with the wide barriers, all which left their nerves jangling a little.

"I don't know but, for whatever reason, the pattern of racing has been, you know, hard to get back into when the horses straighten up because they are left with too much to do," Forsman explained. He also felt the horse started too fast so maybe that had had an impact as well.

Having clinched the group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic coming into the field of 13 for the feature $70,000 Lowland Stakes at the Twilight Raceday meeting, he rated the horse "high quality" but stressed they had only "lightly raced" her.

Forsman saluted Cameron for following the script after leaving from the No13 barrier.

The Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen-trained Savvy Dreams was a healthy part of her torso ahead of Devise with Jason Waddell in the saddle in third place.

Pundits' favourite Nicoletta, also under the tutelage of Baker and Forsman, had to settle for fourth place despite a barrier draw at 5, with jockey Michael Coleman aboard.

Opie Bosson rode Australian horse Fashionably to fifth place.

Lowry, of Hastings, wasn't too disappointed with Savvy Dreams' effort, acknowledging Bonneval was the best filly around.

"It was our filly's only fourth or fifth start so she's going to learn a lot," said the co-trainer of the 3-year-old daughter of Savabeel out of Elusive Dreams.

He said they would head towards the New Zealand Oaks with a bit of confidence.

"We had four stars today but all with outside draws and when I say that I mean we drew outside or second to outside every time."

Innes rode Savvy Dreams from a long way back as well and she had to work hard to find a perch in the front.

"I think in the Oaks, if we get in early, hopefully we can turn the tables."

With another 300m at the Oaks, Lowry said he would have liked to think it would suit Bonneval better but for his horse it's an ideal learning opportunity.

"You have to give Bonneval a bit of credit and there's not much of [Savvy Dreams] so we'll have to really look after her well to get her to the Oaks in 2 weeks," he said, describing her as "tough with good ability".