Newly-crowned Group One winner Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy) will continue her campaign in New Zealand after the mare’s Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) triumph last Saturday.
Victory in the BCD Group Sprint came after luckless runs for second and third in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) respectively, her consistent form being rewarded at last at Te Rapa with a tough front-running performance, holding off the previously unbeaten three-year-old Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto).
Graham Richardson, who trains the daughter of Super Easy in partnership with Rogan Norvall, had contemplated a tilt at the time-honoured Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 9, but as the dust settled, opted for a feature closer to their Matamata base.
“She went out to JK Farm for a few days in the paddock, she’ll be back in the stable tomorrow (Thursday),” he said.
“Then we’ve decided she’ll run in the King’s Plate, so at this stage she won’t be going to Australia.”
Bonny Lass will be seeking redemption of sorts in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) on Derby Day (March 2) at Ellerslie, after being late scratched behind the barriers in last year’s edition, held at Te Rapa.
