Australian bred filly Bounding heads for a spell with an unbeaten record following her Listed victory in the LR Murdoch Newell 2YO Stakes at Pukekohe on Saturday.

Bounding (2f Lonhro – Believe’n’succeed by Exceed And Excel) won on debut at Ellerslie last month and her latest performance has added further drive to a long-held ambition for her connections.  “It was a very good effort,” trainer Ken Kelso said.  “We will bring her back for the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes.

“She’s also in the Golden Slipper and that’s a bit of a dream,” Wood added.  “But when you buy a filly at the Inglis Easter Sale that’s what it’s all about.”

Purchased by Tirau owner Gary Harding for $425,000 in Sydney, Bounding jumped smartly to stalk the leader and took over early in the run home at Pukekohe.  “I got a beautiful run and still had a good hold of her in the straight,” jockey Vin Colgan said.  “She still doesn’t really know what it’s all about and she’s very exciting.”

Bounding stayed on strongly to get home by a long neck from Ruud Awakening (Bernardini).  The runner-up was coming off a Listed victory in the Wellesley Stakes and her effort to come from last was encouraging with a view to the Karaka Million.

By Darley champion Lonhro, the winning filly is out of G3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner Believe’n’succeed.  Her dam has missed to Encosta de Lago for the last two years.  She is a sister to Flemington Listed winner Kuroshio.