Warhorse charges to Bonecrusher win

1st Oct 2012

Last season’s champion juvenile Warhorse (NZ) (General Nediym) gained significant momentum in his push for classic honours with victory in the Listed Manuka Doctor Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie yesterday.

The Matamata three-year-old had floundered when a fresh-up fourth on a heavy track in the Wanganui Guineas and the much-improved underfoot conditions at Ellerslie brought out the best in the colt. This time, Warhorse had to overcome traffic problems in the straight, but once he was angled into the clear he moved his rivals down.

Warhorse (NZ) (General Nediym)

“He got himself into an awkward place on the turn on what looked to my eye a moderate speed,” trainer Jason Bridgman said. “He got held up and there was a glimpse of a gap on the inside and I thought don’t go there, get to the outside. He only needs 200 metres on a good track to show he’s got a blistering turn of foot.”

Winner of the Diamond Stakes and Eclipse Stakes and third in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes at two, Warhorse is now likely to run next in either the Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa or the Wellington Guineas. He will then head to Riccarton for the Two Thousand Guineas, for which he is currently the equal $6 favourite with impressive Ruakaka winner Sacred Falls.

“There’s still physical development and strengthening to come and to finish off like he did today showed he will be hard to beat in anything up to 1600 metres,” Bridgman said.

Warhorse was ridden by Matthew Cameron, who was thrilled with the effort after admitting to a few anxious moments in the straight.

“I had a whole brick wall in front of me and had to peel to the outside,” he said. “He dug deep like a really good horse and it was a solid effort.”