Aston Bundy victorious in $20,000 Golden Chase
Pictured: Aston Bundy was impressive in winning the Golden Chase on Thursday at Manawatu Raceway.
The electric Aston Bundy seized the initiative shortly after the start, and he was rewarded with victory in Thursday’s running of the $20,000 Golden Chase.
It was just reward for the Lisa Cole-mentored former Victorian chaser, who had been setting Manawatu Raceway alight over recent weeks, completing his 457m task in a meet best 25.46, an excellent time considering the rough, windy weather conditions the event was raced in.
There was a sensation when the 457m traps lifted, with the hot favourite He’s All Go making a mistake at the jump, meaning he settled last. The exciting chaser attempted to charge through the field, but the gaps weren’t there, resulting in a series of checks.
Meanwhile, up on the pace, Aston Bundy kicked clear when rounding the big, sweeping bend, and the son of Aston Kimetto and Aston Regus powered to the line, holding a 2.25 length margin over his kennelmate and dual Group 1 winner Blazin’ Master.
Finishing resolutely to claim third a further four lengths astern was Federal Aussie and in doing so, provided the Cole kennel, who blasted through the 600 training wins barrier for the current season during the meeting, with the race trifecta.
Aston Bundy, who belied his C3 grading when winning this invitation event, has now won $23,598, the result of five wins and two seconds from his seven races since his owner Ray Borda sent him across the Tasman.
“We weren’t going to nominate him for this race – he was going to Cambridge; however, we changed that decision after his prior quick 457m wins,” explained Brendon Cole.
“Aston Bundy has got a lot of pace, as you’ve seen. I believe he will strengthen up and turn into a good 520m dog. Ray had said that he was doing a few things wrong in Victoria, and he believed he would be better suited racing over here.”
Cole informs us about Borda’s reaction to the win.
“Ray texted me – ‘I need to get you some more dogs’! Ray is a much-respected businessman, who is a very successful breeder and owner.”
Aston Kennett, who was also sired by Aston Kimetto and owned by Borda, is the current Manawatu Raceway 457m track record holder at 25.21, when trained by the Cole team, who also prepared the 2023 Group 2 Dash For Cash winner Aston Lamont for Borda.
Cole also provides us with his thoughts about the poor start that He’s All Go made.
“He tried to anticipate the start, and if you look closely at the head on footage, it appears that he got his muzzle caught in the bars. It’s one of those things. I actually felt a bit empty after the race, despite running the trifecta.”
He also advised that the three Golden Chase placegetters, along with He’s All Go, are now likely to contest Friday’s Group 1 Hatrick Classic 520m heats.
Golden Maiden Race Series Final
Pictured: Big Time Lauren lived up to her reputation in the Golden Maiden Series Final.
The richest maiden race ever contested in New Zealand resulted in the exciting Lisa Cole-trained youngster Big Time Lauren convincingly winning the $15,000 Golden Maiden Series Final.
The daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Big Time Izzy – and litter sister to He’s All Go – was always in control of her rivals ,as seen by the comfortable 4.5 length margin she held at the judge. She stopped the clock in a handy 25.67.
Kennelmate Fool Me Once was bold in the manner that he chased after the pacesetter to secure the runner’s up prize, while it was the Dave and Jean Fahey-prepared Very Rarely who stoutly pushed on another three-quarters of a length behind to claim third.
“She’s a super little dog who confirmed our thoughts about her ability with this win, and she still has improvement in her which we saw in the way that she strongly hooked away from the others during the run home,” commented Brendon Cole.
Her owner also advises that he has been besieged with numerous purchase offers for her.
“I’m fielding heaps of calls from people wanting to buy her – including some from people who I don’t know. I’m not sure at this stage which direction I’ll head with her.”
Cole informs us that the plans for Big Time Lauren is to just to keep her quietly ticking over: “I haven’t had any thoughts about her immediate future.”
The three 457m Golden Maiden Series Consolation races were evenly shared.
The $5,500 first consolation went to the Cole-mentored Big Time Brave in 26.19. Riley Evans produced Goldstar Declan to take out the $4,860 second consolation, clocking 26.39. The $4,540 third consolation fell to the Robin Wales-prepared Opawa Stacey, who cleared out for her 26.16 win.
The meeting opened with an emphatic 720m staying performance by Space Boy, who led throughout when clocking his strong 41.45 victory for Lisa Cole, with the win being the first of eight meeting training successes.
“That was a really good run from Space Boy. He’s a really tough dog to get past when he’s freewheeling along in front. He’ll go onto Friday’s heats for the Wanganui Distance on Friday (Group 1, 755m),” advised Brendon Cole about the winner of 25 races.
By Peter Fenemor
