Bonny the Viper extended her winning streak with a runaway victory in the $135,000 Capricornia Sales Classic (1200m) at Rockhampton on Thursday.
Bonny the Viper (2f Garrison Savannah – Vonny the Viper by Fasliyev) won her fourth race in a row to provide Central Queensland grazier Phil Hughes with his biggest result in racing.
The locally based filly was ridden by Cassie Priest and led from barrier-to-box to defeat the Private Agenda youngsters Sweet Reward and Private Chat.
“I’ve been nervous all week,” delighted trainer Garnett Taylor said. “I really thought she could win, as she had improved since her win in Rocky a few weeks back.”
Bonny the Viper was a $4,000 buy from Palm View Stud at the 2010 Capricorn Sale and has earned over $114,000 for Hughes. She is from a half-sister to King Durham / Grateful Master who has won six races in Australia and Macau.
The Capricornia Classic winner is by regally bred stallion Garrison Savannah. He stood at Craiglea Stud last year and is a Danehill half-brother to G1 racehorse and sire Savabeel (Zabeel).
Garrison Savannah has sired 6 winners from his first crop and Bonny the Viper is the only winner to date from the second.
Savannah Dawn (3f Garrison Savannah – Dusk Before Dawn by Euclase) is one of the half-dozen winners from his initial crop and she almost caused a boilover in the Capricornia Sales 3YO Championship (1300m) at Callaghan Park on Thursday.
River Lad (3g Top Echelon – Ikeymo by Canny Lad) won the 3YO Classic when he edged out the $51 longshot by a head. He is trained by Natalie McCall at Caloundra and travelled north after finishing sixth in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes at Doomben last month.
He won last year’s Capricornia 2YO Classic and shouldered 9kg more than the runner-up! His sire Top Echelon (Umatilla) also stands at Stan Johnson’s Craiglea Stud at Kenilworth.
River Lad failed to reach a $5,000 reserve at the 2009 Capricornia yearling sale. He is raced by owner-breeders Ray and Rosemary Anderson and his bank balance passed $140,000 on Thursday!