Seven-year-old Road To Rock gelding Bonny Ezra provided his Kiwi connections with a good pay day when charging home to land the Listed ATC Cup (2000m) for trainer Chris Waller under a masterful Robbie Dolan ride.
Sent out a $31 chance, Bonny Ezra upset the applecart after coming from last under Dolan, who picked a path through runners closer to the rail to score from Dr Drill.
The victory reaffirmed the riding skills of Dolan, who these days juggles being a jockey with his vocal career after making a name for himself on the reality TV show The Voice.
A three-time winner for Waverley horseman Colin Cromarty, Bonny Ezra was sent to Waller by breeder Paul Gudsell after finishing down the track in last year’s Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m), with Cromarty gifted a ten percent share.
Saturday’s victory was the second in the care of the champion trainer and opens up further options over the festive season now the galloper has proven his firm-track credentials and advanced his career earnings to A$315,863.
"Bonny Ezra had very good form in the winter,'' Waller told Newscorp. "But we were hoping it wasn't just the wet tracks.
"But this win shows he is capable of winning on a good track and he can go to the Christmas Cup (Listed, 2400m) in two weeks.''
Bonny Ezra is by former Wellfield Lodge stallion Road To Rock out of the stakes performed Bertolini mare Ascolini, who was trained by Paul Belsham.
Earlier on the card Proisir six-year-old Whanga Wonder struck a blow at his fourth start since crossing the Tasman for trainer Kim Waugh, running out a dominant winner of the Midway Handicap (2000m).
Whanga Wonder had previously been trained by Debbie Sweeney and is raced by Bryan Black, who has been a prominent sponsor of racing through his engineering and logistics company Manco.
The six-year-old has now amassed A$122,905 in prizemoney and was purchased as a yearling at Karaka by Black from the draft of Rich Hill Stud for just $7,000. – NZ Racing Desk
