By Tayler StrongBonnie Joan was sensational winning a heat of the Nevele R Fillies series at Forbury Park last night.
She ran her rivals ragged in New Zealand record time for a 3-year-old of any gender, 2.00.2 (1.53.8 mile rate) for 1700m (mobile) in drizzling rain on a saturated track. Her time was 0.2sec inside the record set by the filly Ideal Belle at Alexandra Park in 2013.
The time for Bonnie Joan was a track record for all ages, eclipsing the 2.01.8 mark set by filly Adore Me as a 3-year-old in ideal daytime conditions in 2012. The previous best in a Nevele R series heat at Forbury Park was 2.02.9 by Safedra in 2013.
Bonnie Joan had won over 2400m (mobile) in 2.53.8 (1.56 mile rate), 0.8sec outside a NZ record four days earlier at Winton.
“She is a nice filly who has got gate speed. It was a good effort to do those times in a few days and she did it comfortably,’’ said her driver Dexter Dunn.
“Nathan did a good job of looking after her.” Dunn was referring to Nathan Williamson who cared for Bonnie Jean during the week at Ryal Bush.
Bonnie Joan had won the first heat of the Nevele R series at Ashburton on February 4 in 1.52.8 for the mile.
The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere – Wave Runner is trained by Cran Dalgety for the Tuapeka Lodge syndicate comprising Peter and Dan Cummings and Julie Davie. Bonnie Joan is a half sister to Break Dance, who won the final of the Southern Belle series at Winton last Sunday in 1.53.3.
The Tuapeka Lodge syndicate have Break Dance leased out but the stud operation at Lawrence (Central Otago) sold her dam, Wave Runner, who won eight races.
Bonnie Joan gave Dalgety and Dunn their fourth win in a Nevele R series heat at Forbury Park. They also won with Safedra, Donegal Delight (2011) and Angela’s Dream (2008). Dalgety also won the 2007 heat with Dontdrinkthendrive, driven by Mark Jones.
Dalgety won the final in 2001 with Sparks A Flyin. She won a heat at Ashburton and did not race at Forbury Park.
Preferred (1983) and Venus Serena (2014) have gone on to win the final after success in the Forbury Park heat.
Bonnie Joan is ineligible for the final heat of the series at Addington on April 21. The $140,000 final is there on May 12.
Bonnie Jean ended the unbeaten record in 10 starts of Partyon, who raced in the open and faded to fifth, 2.6 lengths from the winner.
“I think it was just the speed they went in her first race since March 3,” said trainer–driver Mark Purdon. Partyon will now go to the final heat, along with stablemate Spanish Armada, who won a heat at Addington on March 16.
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