Bon voyage for Bon Aurum

Euroa horseman Ken King is quietly confident Bon Aurum can emulate his sire Bon Hoffa and win the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 24.

Bon Aurum returned to form with a vengeance in the Listed The Sofitel (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.  He accounted for a talented field of sprinters winning by two lengths from Ulmann (Sebring) and Hi World (High Chaparral).

It was his first win since taking out the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude last October.  “We bred Bon Aurum at Parador Park,” King said.  “He has been underrated and didn’t get a lot of credit for the Guineas Prelude.”

King is one of Victoria’s leading syndicators and keeps between 10% and 30% of all of his horses.  “I feel I have an advantage doing my own breeding as I know the history of the horse.

“I don’t use fashionable sires but I like using nicely bred mares.”

King bought Bon Hoffa for $60,000 as a yearling and banked over $700,000 before standing him as a stallion in partnership with Bowness Stud.

He sired Bon Aurum from Goldsmobile (Promontory Gold) who is from a half-sister to European Group 2 winner Young Runaway.  Her latest is unraced 3yo colt Golden State (Domesday).

Caulfield trainer Ciaron Maher prepares Bon Aurum and King’s Group 1 Victorian Oaks winner Set Square (Reset).  The mare is ready to win again after a flashing-light third in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 3.

King also raced Flemington stakes winner Late Charge (Hard Spun) who is currently serving his first mares at Riverbank Farm in Benalla.  And he earned plenty of bonus dollars with Fast Cash after winning last year’s $180,000 VOBIS Gold Carat (1200m) at Moonee Valley.