It’s the 21st of March, 2020. Thousands of people defy the New South Wales government’s public health order and descend on Bondi Beach on a warm and sunny Saturday morning.
By lunchtime, one of Sydney’s most iconic tourist hotspots was officially closed.
A thousand kilometres away, Aaron Dunn watches the Bondi developments on television at his Horsham home.
It was a distraction from the quandary occupying his mind that day.
His promising young colt had shown plenty of potential and was on the verge of his first trial. But he still didn’t have a name.
Sired by the great Somebeachsomewhere, Aaron had thrashed around and workshopped a number of ocean-themed options for his young speed machine, but nothing seemed to hit the mark.
Then, that wave rolled in. Sydney’s eastern suburbs shut down. Aaron had a name spring to mind. Bondi Lockdown.
“I needed a beach name, then that happened. I thought it had a bit of ring to it so it stuck. And I reckon it’s one of the best names I’ve come up with too,” Aaron said.
Which is fitting really, because Bondi Lockdown has quickly lived up to that billing as the best horse he’s had in his care.
“I knew he was good before I took him to the trials. I thought he was a very good horse as a yearling. He just looked good from the word go,” he said.
“He just had a high cruising speed. There were times when I’d think we were going slow and then I’d look down and he’s gone six seconds quicker than he should be. He’s got a good motor.”
He showed that on debut, hitting the accelerator to win on a Wednesday afternoon at Stawell and followed that with a narrow defeat at Terang a week later.
Still, there were early hiccups when he returned from a spell, galloping twice in a month.
“I knew he was good but he was just going rough on turns so I had do some work to get that right,” Aaron said.
That was ironed out and a month later he announced himself to the harness racing world with a Monday afternoon demolition job in a small field at Charlton. He won that by 67 metres in track record time.
Since then he’s had 20 starts for 11 wins and five placings. The most recent of those, Saturday night’s heartbreaking loss behind Better Eclipse in the Group 1 Chariots of Fire at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
Bondi Lockdown was part of a world record opening quarter dash of 24.3 and after finding the front, almost held on, overrun late in race record time.
“Everyone’s been saying they’ll be remembering that race as one of the greatest races they’ve ever seen. But I think it will be remembered as one of the greatest defeats of all time,” Aaron said.
He now faces a nervous wait to see if Bondi Lockdown is granted one of two wildcard spots in the field for the million dollar Miracle Mile on March 5.
Aaron has confirmed he won’t be chasing guaranteed entry through this Saturday night’s sprints.
Under Miracle Mile rules of entry, the winners of the Chariots of Fire, Newcastle Mile and the top two in each of this weekend’s sprints are granted automatic invitations into the race. The final two spots in the 8-horse field are chosen based on standout performances in those four qualifiers and the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Mile.
“He’s got nothing more to prove as far as I’m concerned but I can’t go putting him through the sprints. Even if he did go in it and qualified, he’d be spent for the following week anyway.”
Instead, Aaron will focus his efforts this weekend on three-year-old Hot Deal in the heats of the NSW Derby and the just as cleverly named Mykorona in the Group 1 NSW Oaks.
“I can’t take the credit for that one. She was named about the same time as Bondi Lockdown and we were sticking with the health pandemic theme. My partner Tracy suggested that as a bit of a play on the song My Sharona,” Aaron said.
“They’ve all got nicknames though. And I try to pair them up like that.”
Bondi Lockdown’s nickname is Carl – a tribute to his breeder Carl Reinehr. His stablemate, a Bettors Delight mare named Festive Azz is known as Roberta. Underbelly fans will easily recognise that one.
There’s also Kath and Kim. And through the influence of his three-year-old son, Bingo and Bandit –characters in the popular cartoon series Bluey.
Begs the question. What’s in a name? I was on set for Sky Racing Active on Saturday night and as we rattled through the field for a late market update, I noted on air to race caller Fred Hastings that the mere mention of a Bondi lockdown returning to these parts would send shivers through Sydney-siders beginning to enjoy a return to normal freedoms.
“It’s funny how things work out I guess. We knew he was good when we named him but that was two years ago. We couldn’t have imagined how things would take shape not just with the horse but everything else going on in the world. And to even have him here in Sydney for this Carnival as a Victorian horse named after a Sydney beach. Incredible really,” Aaron said.
“Although back when we won the Caduceus at Melton in January last year Matt (Retallick) said to me when you take him to the Miracle Mile I’ll be your strapper. So that was a year ago.”
Matt was there at Menangle on Saturday. And given the chance, will be back next weekend as well.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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