Stakes races at Bunbury on Saturday were won by a classy mare by quiet achiever Maschino and an Ocean Park gelding from an iconic Bob and Sandra Peters female family.
Quality Maschino mare Bonjoy bounced back to her sparkling best when she produced a barnstorming finish to take the Bunbury Stakes in a thrilling four-way go - despite missing the start!
It was the big mare's first stakes win since February last year when she strung together three Ascot victories including the Listed Starstruck Classic at 1500/1600m, but she had raced honestly throughout the Summer Carnival without getting on the board.
Now a six year old and first up since December, the Jason Miller trained Bonjoy showed she still retains the love of racing - and it's interesting to note that the jockey who rode her throughout that earlier winning streak, Clint Johnston-Porter, was reunited with her for this challenging assignment!
Race favourite Talkanco (I'm All The Talk) was going where few three year old fillies have dared to tread, for rarely do they contest this race.
Last year's WA Champion 2YO has been so very genuine in all of her 3YO starts and came in on a frustrating run of four straight seconds in stakes company. With 54kg to carry, the baby of the field met her last start Pinjarra Classic conqueress London's Image (Headwater) significantly better off at the weights this time and most punters were keen to be aboard the filly, with London's Image next in betting.
A winner at her only prior Bunbury start, Bonjoy was installed at 5/1 while the ever-dangerous Elite Missile ( Smart Missile) at 11/2 had his supporters. The shock 80/1 Pinjarra Classic placed Fast Flicker ( A Lot) had a lot more market respect this time! - and the six year old mare, who has found her best form late in her career, went to post at odds of 9/1.
The field of fourteen got away in the first feature of the afternoon with Bonjoy a clear last out of the gates.
The Parnham-trained stablemates Multinational (Zoustar)and Bustler (Playing God) pressed forward with intent to take up proceedings until 100/1 shot Zephyra (Demerit) from out wide charged across the field on a wing and a prayer to lead.
Fast Flicker and Natasha Faithfull got into a perfect spot on the rail with London's Choice (Lucy Fiore) midfield.
Saloon Bar (Sessions) found himself out in the cheap seats while another by his sire Sensessional was getting a much cosier run.
Talkanco for Chris Parnham raced beyond midfield inside a pack of horses and it was already a nervous watch for favourite backers as Elite Missile and Bonjoy went back to the ruck, with only the old boy Mojo Rhythm ( Playing God )behind them.
Suddenly Shaun O’ Donnell on Oly's Choice ( Demerit) whipped around them to take up the running at the 600m, from Zephyra sticking on grimly as most of the on pacers began to fall away - except for London's Image who came out of Zephyra's slipstream to make her run.
Fast Flicker was also picking up ground quickly as they swung into the straight with the fave still stuck in traffic!
London's Image out in the centre of the track swept to the lead at the 150m but Fast Flicker was once again on the scene with gritty determination.
Talkanco had finally found clear air and shot up the rail to be in the thick of a desperate three way finish!
Halfway up the straight Bonjoy was well back and a forlorn hope but suddenly she was on the scene breathing fire when Johnston Porter said go. The powerful mare launched at the very last moment and dropped on them with a surge of classy acceleration. It was an all girl finish to the Bunbury Stakes with Bonjoy lunging on the line to win by a head over Fast Flicker. London's Image was only a neck away in third and gallant Talkanco a length from the winner in fourth just finding the older mares a little too tough in the clinches on the day.
It was an immensely satisfying result for Miller to see his bonny mare back in peak form.
“She only had three and a half weeks off, but she has just looked so much better in her coat, and Clint gets on with her so well” said the trainer.
“ I knew at her best she could be right in it, and it's good to see her back. At the top of the straight I thought we were in a world of pain but CJ just found a way.”
“CJP” aka Johnston-Porter paid tribute to the class of the Maschino mare.
“She knows her trade very well. She was unlucky not to win one (over the carnival) and go into a Railway Stakes - so being that type of mare, she was probably the best performed horse in the race.
I have a lot of faith in this horse, she's got me out of a lot of sticky situations. I had faith that if a run came she would rattle home.”
Bonjoy was a $60,000 buy for her trainer at the Perth Magic Millions from the draft of Alwyn Park Stud.
Her Bunbury Stakes win is the second black type victory for the valuable mare, and adds to her placings in the Sheila Gwynne Classic and Jungle Dawn Classic.
Bonjoy advances her record to 25 starts for 12 wins and 5 placings which have earned her connections $665,325
Bonjoy is out of the Snitzel mare Amity Belle, unplaced in four race starts but holding much promise at stud as a daughter of the late great sire from a very good family and she certainly proved that on this day!
Bred and owned by Coral Park Stud, Amity Belle has had two to race for two winners with Bonjoy being her first foal.
Two races before Bonjoy's Bunbury Stakes triumph her half brother Audio Boy (Sessions) a winner of more than $200,000 to date placed in a 2000m race for Adam Durrant who purchased him for $100,000 with Geoff Bull at Perth Magic Millions.
Amity Belle's 2022 colt Red Man Digger by Maschino is unraced. A full brother was born in 2024 and the mare was returned to Maschino again.
Bonjoy is bred
Redoute's Choice 3f x 3m sex balanced
So here we have yet another example of successful inbreeding to the Arrowfield giant specifically and the Best In Show family in general.
The Maschino / Snitzel nick now has three runners for two winners, one stakes winner while the stakes placed Asphalt is out of a Hurricane Sky mare and his very exciting son Smooth Chino is out of a mare by Gingerbread Man, who has Hurricane Sky as his damsire.
Like Maschino's Oaks / Derby heroine of last season Machine Gun Gracie, Bonjoy's pedigree boasts many lines of Blue Hen La Troienne ( Don't Say Halo's ancestress and a key presence in Redoute's Choice and Lomond) - she is also linebred to Blue Hens Lalun, Myrtlewood ( ancestress of Mr Prospector and Lomond) and Almahmoud via three quarter sisters Cosmah and Natalma.
The sex balanced Mr Prospector and Lomond (13-c) nick with their distant relative Wilkes, and with Alcimedes (13 e) and Beau Vite (13b) all appearing on Bonjoy's tail female line.
Maschino and French Deputy both carry Bold Ruler through their dams.
Bonjoy is Maschino's third Stakes winner for the 25/26 season following Joker's Grin ( now in Sydney with Chris Waller) and Smooth Chino, while Asphalt, the Oaks-bound Masmelo and Pure Mak are stakes placed.
Alwyn Park Stud's prolific son of the great Encosta De Lago stands at a fee of $8,800.
There are two yearlings from this excellent family to be offered at the upcoming Magic Millions Gold Coast March Sale.
Lot 52 Offered by Kenmore Lodge as agent for Arrowfield
A colt by Maurice's G1 Australian Guineas /ATC Derby / VRC Derby champion Hitotsu, he is the first foal of Angelical, a 5x winning Deep Impact mare and one of only two foals from the winning Lonhro mare Swift Angel. Third dam unraced by Quest For Fame produced six winners - including G2 winner Text'n Hurley, and the colt’s fourth dam is Excited Angel.
If your dream is Derbies / Cups this is a colt with a very big Classic pedigree!
Bred 5f x 4m Sunday Silence, sex balanced Halo, linebred to close relations Zabeel and Carnegie, a dash of Redoute's, season with Quest For Fame and heaps of Blue Hen La Troienne, and so it goes on.
At the same sale Waylon J Stud will offer Lot 391
A filly by HK G1 winner Stronger, first season son of sire of sires Not A Single Doubt and a half brother to champion filly Lady Shenandoah.
This filly is the fourth foal from the unraced Delzao mare Secret Morning who has had three to race for two winners.
The filly's dam is out of stakes winner and black type producer Prayerful (Bonjoy's branch), full sister to Excited Angel. Immediate family of G1 winning mare Montoya's Secret
Bunbury Cup Listed 2000m
After a thrilling finish to the Bunbury Stakes the big and festive crowd on course were revved up for The Cup which first ran in 1894, and was most famously won by WA legend Rogan Josh on his road to Melbourne Cup immortality!
A field of thirteen contested this year's Cup with Adam Durrant's talented Sessions mare Fancy Red deemed the punter's elect as she returned to the course/distance which saw her claim the ( relocated) Listed Belmont Oaks last July. However the mare carried 57.5kg which was more weight than her main rival, the Peters Investments bred and owned, NZ-born and Michael Grantham trained Arcadia Park ( Ocean Park), coming off a last start Detonator Stakes third with 56.5kg and the man of the moment Johnston-Porter on board chasing the feature double!
The Detonator winner Fear The Wind ( Fiorente) was friendless this time with punters looking elsewhere.
Redback Flyer ( Playing God), Fly With Caution ( Galah) Rocking Society ( Awesome Rock) and Silver Eye ( Sessions) all had their supporters as the Cup field got away to the customary roar of the crowd!
Fancy Red and Redback Flyer were fast away but CJP and Arcadia Park jumped with intent from their wide barrier and crossed to lead the Cup field out of the first turn.
Bolter Rudhyar (Sea The Stars) was up there on the premises as were Fear The Wind and Fly With Caution, while Redback Flyer dropped out of the pace battle and Silver Eye went right back to the tail.
But it was the favourite Fancy Red ( Brad Parnham) who quickly reassumed the lead - and the young mare bowled along with her ears pricked at the 1400m, setting a nice solid tempo.
Rudhyar, Fly With Caution, Rocking Society and Fear The Wind were all happy to follow in her wake as the rest of the field began to string out.
Arcadia Park and 20/1 shot Snazzler (Mahuta) raced side by side midfield.
At the 900m Fancy Red was going strongly but the Cup field began to bunch up behind her as the home turn neared. Suddenly CJP set Arcadia Park alight! The Ocean Park gelding swept around the outside and hit the front at the 500m.
Arcadia Park with a full head of steam up led them for home as Fancy Red and Rocking Society tried to match motors.
Fear The Wind was still there one batting, Snazzler was looking for a way through and Silver Eye had stoked up from the rear!
Fancy Red was fighting hard and Snazzler had snuck through a gap to put himself in the picture as the winning post neared.
Johnston-Porter had to pull the persuader on Arcadia Park but the big bold gelding responded.
Silver Eye was flying down the outside but too late! Arcadia Park hung on for a tough win in the Cup by a short neck from the charging Silver Eye. Snazzler closed hard for third and Fancy Red was brave staying on for fourth.
Johnston Porter had pulled the trigger early - but his gamble paid off and gave the jockey both the Cup and the day's feature double.
Arcadia Park's breeder Bob Peters seemed more relieved than anything.
“He (CJP) wouldn't want to hear what I had to say when he hit the front so soon “ said the industry heavyweight wryly.
“I said, he hasn't even got to the corner yet! I said to Michael before they went out he's fit, he's ready - and as it turned out he was fit enough, but I couldn't believe it when he hit the front so soon.
He'll get a bit of weight now ( for the 2300m Pinjarra Cup in a fortnight) and he's already up pretty high so that will make it hard.”
CJP was more breezy.
“Any other horse I probably wouldn't have ridden like that, but I know he's a true out and out stayer and he's got a bit of grit about him.
The last race put him where he needed to be fitness wise. Michael does a terrific job with the horses and so I was able to do something clever like that on him. He'll get 2400m on his ear!”
Arcadia Park is the latest star from Peters Investments magnificent “Arcadia” family and the four year old advances his record to 5 wins and 5 placings in 14 starts, adding the Bunbury Cup to his Belmont Classic / Aquanita Stakes double of last season. The talented gelding has amassed $437,980 in prizemoney and there's plenty more to come you'd think.
He is the best of four winners and only stakes winner to date from the fine mare Arcadia Dream ( Domesday) whose five wins included the Listed Aquanita Stakes as well as the G2 Western Australian Derby (2400m).
Arcadia Dream is based in NZ but her first foal was born in Australia and she is the winning Vancouver filly Iolanthe, now owned by Godolphin and with two fillies on the ground by Pierro, who has formed an incredible nick with the family.
Arcadia Dream is half sister to Peters’ triple G1 winner Arcadia Queen (Pierro) , along with fellow black-type winners Arcadia Prince and Arcadia Rose.
This family is that of the G1 VRC Oaks placed Antique ( Metal Storm) a full sister to the WA Guineas heroine Kalatiara, Detonator Stakes winner Kentiara and Lacienne, the dam of Perth Cup winner Guest Wing.
These daughters of the What A Guest mare Bonny Guest have all bred on successfully and like so many prolific female lines this one traces to a daughter of mighty Vain, in this case the Arrowfield-bred Dancelot who had three sons who all made their mark at stud - Imperial Baron, the Oakleigh Plate winner Kenvain and Take Your Partner.
Her dam Hot Rhythm by Sostenuto placed in both VRC Oaks and Flight Stakes and was dam of top fillies Shannara and Verdi, who both founded productive black type families.
This extremely classy and prolific female line is a branch of 22-c descending from the imported Stedfast mare Steady Glass.
Arcadia Park is bred
Nureyev 4m, 5f x sex Bal
Storm Bird 5m x 5f sex Bal
He is linebred to Best In Show via the Sir Ivor daughters and full sisters Minnie Hauk, Show Lady and Monroe.
Bluebird was out of a Sir Ivor mare - , Zabeel's is his tail male line to provide the sex balance.
This is of course Royal Charger's line of descent to which also belong Roberto and Habitat carried by Arcadia Park's dam. Habitat is a half brother to Northfields, carried by Spinning World while Pompeii Court provides a Royal Charger daughter.
This beautiful pedigree also features sex balanced linebreeding to Damascus, Bletchingly, My Babu and Relic.
Waikato Stud's champion racehorse and sire Ocean Park is on fire with his daughters O’ Hope Wins and Autumn Glory dominating the Classic scene in NZ for the last two seasons.
The five time G1 winner and Cox Plate hero is throwing some extraordinarily talented performers. He seems remarkable value on a fee of $15,000!
Upcoming at Inglis Easter
Lot 310 on account of Tyreel Stud as agent
Colt by Pierro from stakes placed Festival Miss, a daughter of elite broodmare sire Bernardini. He is her third foal, the second is a 2YO.
Her dam is the winning Anabaa mare Fortune Smiles, half sister to SW Antique Belle, Broadway Belle and to the dam of Arcadia Queen etc
Colt is a three quarter brother to dual G1 winner and Joint Champion Australian Middle Distance Horse Regal Power and his full brother Action ( WA Derby, runner up Perth Cup) and to champion 3 x G1 WFA winner Arcadia Queen, all by Pierro.
The AP Indy son Bernardini is one of the most sought after broodmares on the planet and this cross with the immediate family has produced the 3 x G2/3 placed juvenile Meidung, dam of G2 winner Banish ( Lonhro) grand dam of G2 winner and multiple G1 placed young sire Dirty Work by Written Tycoon.
