Our Baby Bonus Remains Unbeaten
- Saturday, 29 May 2010 03:42
The good thing of the day is home at the Valley.
Trainer Mick Price was expecting more but his unbeaten three-year-old Our Baby Bonus was still good enough winning the $70,000 Adapt Australia Handicap (1000m) by a length.
Our Baby Bonus ($1.60,$1.75) showed his customary toe from the gates but had to work hard to cross the speedy South Australian Striding Success ($13,$18,$15) in the early stages.
Jason Maskiell was able to control the tempo and steal some cheap sectionals in the middle stages and the hot favourite showed enough turn of foot to pinch a winning break going on to score by almost a length from Sunday Rose ($13) with My Girl Helen ($13,$18) a length away third.
The race was marred with barrier dramas resulting in a number of the top chances requiring pre race veterinary inspections including the Doug Harrison trained Tan Tat Brav who was passed fit to run but finished well back.
"Steven (King) said he reared up and got a bit worked up but he didn't do anything to suggest he would run as he did," said a disappointed Harrison.
Winners are grinners though and Price’s opinion of his up and coming sprinter is obviously quite high based on his tempered praise of the geldings win, despite working hard at both ends.
“He got a little bit tired I thought,” said Price after the win.
“We had to use a little bit of petrol early but I would’ve liked to see him boot clear and win by four”
But Price is still expecting the son of Dash For Cash to improve from the run and is considering a start in the Listed A.R Creswick Stakes at Flemington (1200m) on June 12.
“He has only had 10 weeks work, including a bit on the water walker and just the one 650m trial, so that’s probably why he got tired on the slow track,” Price elaborated.
“I will put an entry in for the Creswick at Flemington in two weeks or we might head to the Winter sprint series.”
Maskiell admitted the gelding was feeling the pinch over the concluding stages but noted he expected a great deal of improvement from the run.
“We got a few cheap sectionals in the middle stages which worked out well,” said Maskiell.
“He probably got a bit tired over the last 50m but we haven’t done a lot with him so he has got a good prep ahead of him”
“ I can’t wait until he goes around again – hopefully it’s in a claiming race again,” Maskiell joked.
Our Baby Bonus’s fourth win from four starts takes his career earnings to almost $200,000.
Photos by Fiona Tomlin
