Lynward Park stallion Bondi upped the ante for the WA second-season sires’ premiership when Bondi Bubbles won the $250,000 Magic Millions 3YO Trophy on Saturday.
Rivercrest Park resident Ducimus held a significant lead before the weekend and looked likely to go further ahead when his consistent gelding Leading Taddy kicked clear in the 3YO Trophy only to be swamped in the shadows of the post.
Their duel went tit-for-tat at Ascot on Wednesday when Bondi Plunge (Bondi) and Hero Hunter (Ducimus) won 3yo maidens before Icebergs (Bondi) landed the last at the 12-race meeting. The trio are all graduates of the 2022 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
Arion Pedigrees has Bondi leading the WA second-season table ($571,268) from Ducimus ($543,506) with this week’s Westspeed bonuses still to be added. Both sons of Snitzel, they are 13th and 14th respectively on the Australian second-season table.
Bondi Plunge had been placed six times before a deserved breakthrough in the Quayclean Maiden (1100m). The Dan Morton-trained filly settled three-wide for Brad Parnham who was happy to keep her out of trouble.
“She was in a nice rhythm out there and felt like the winner at the top of the straight,” Parnham said. “She hit the front pretty easily but began to stargaze and wander about. Then she felt the second horse (On A Winning Day) coming and put them away.”
Bondi Plunge was sold for $35,000 by Dawson Stud (as agent for Anita Vale) in the Swan Valley. Her dam Le Plunge (Tobougg) won the G3 Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) in 2010 and her latest cover was to Geisel Park first-season sire Aysar (Deep Field).
Hero Hunter got a run from first emergency in the Amelia Park Maiden (1600m) and made the most of a late call-up to sit in the box-seat behind front-runner Crystal Rose (Demerit). “He jumped well and responded when I gave him a dig,” jockey Jordie Turner reported. “He’s still a prep or two away and will be better when he puts on a bit more condition.”
Ducimus sired him from Magnificent Pair (Bletchley Park) whose second-dam Mercurial Madam (Is It True) won the G3 Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) in 1996. Group 1 winning trainer Colin Webster bought Hero Hunter from Alwyn Park (as agent for Rivercrest Park) for $34,000 two years ago.
Icebergs overhauled Rommel’s Jeuney following a two-horse war in the Schweppes Hcp (1600m). The budding Bondi stayer had won a Bunbury maiden in October and is on a path to the G2 WA Derby (2400m) on April 13.
“He was still fresh today and hopefully we can get him to settle better,” trainer Mitch Pateman said. “I have to thank Taj Dyson for all the work he’s done on the horse. He’s a terror when I try to ride him at home!
“The pressure was on today. Mum (Maria Hunter) is here and she’s a part-owner and so is Troy (van Heemst) who stands Bondi.
“That’s a double for Bondi. His horses are starting to hit their straps now and this bloke will make a good stayer in time.”
Lynward Park sold Icebergs for $70,000 at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions. His dam Aim For Gold (End Sweep) was a giveaway $1,000 buy for van Heemst as a 17 year-old mare at an Inglis Digital Sale. She has a yearling filly and weanling colt by Bondi at Bullsbrook.
Bondi was profiled here ahead of the Perth Magic Millions and Rivercrest Park studmaster Steve Hoare has three yearlings by Ducimus being sold through the Alwyn Park draft on Thursday and Friday.
Lot 85 Filly Ducimus – Inimitable (Lonhro)
“She’s closely related to Super Smink and is a lovely, loose-walking filly,” Hoare said on Sale-eve. “She’s a good size with a deep girth and we’ve had people coming back for a third inspection.”
Lot 159 Filly Ducimus – Shezapro (Econsul)
“The dam had thrown the Stakes filly Classic Pro and this one will go early. She’s also a full-sister to a Ducimus 3yo named Dutch Por. Luke Fernie likes him but is giving him time to grow into a big frame.”
Lot 253 Gelding Ducimus – Gondiggin (Universal Prince)
“He has plenty of admirers with a strong shoulder and hindquarter. We’ve been kept busy pulling him out for inspections and the vibe has been positive all around the sale grounds.”
Hoare is also prepping the only son of Per Incanto (USA) for the Swan Valley Sale (Lot 197). Bred in NZ by Orbis Bloodstock, who own Ducimus, he displays a strong work ethic and is the first foal from an unraced half-sister to G2 WA Derby winner Tuscan Queen (Fastnet Rock).
The only God Has Spoken filly (Lot 202) is also among the yearlings in Barns B & C. “She’s from a Galileo mare and looks a classic filly,” Hoare predicted. “She’s well grown and so light on her feet it looks like she’s floating in the paddock.”
The Ducimus – Renegade Girl (War Chant) filly (Lot 144) is a late withdrawal from the catalogue. She’s a full-sister to Define Beautiful who finished fourth in the RL Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m) at Pinjarra. She lay inwards and steadied on straightening off the heels of Onemoretwomany (Tassort) and did well to finish a length and change behind the winner Big Shots (Sizzling) on Saturday.
Trainer Trevor Andrews will aim Define Beautiful towards the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) on April 20 and a share of the $500,000 prizemoney will set up a tight finish between Bondi and Ducimus for second-season sire honours.