Bonham Heads Karaka Quinella in Levin Classic

Karaka graduates finished first and second in Saturday’s prestigious $225,000 Group One Devan Plastics Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham, with super-talented filly Bonham (Per Incanto) stepping up to the big time with a career-defining victory. 

Bought for $160,000 from Little Avondale Stud’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2019, the exciting filly has now won four of her five starts and $168,000 in stakes. Runner-up Brando (NZ) (Savabeel), who has never finished further back than second in his five-start career, cost $500,000 at the Ready to Run Sale.

Only seven days after winning a minor three-year-old event at Awapuni, Bonham was thrown in at the deep end on Saturday against a quality three-year-old field. She rose to the occasion and proved herself to be among the very best of her generation.

Ridden by Lisa Allpress for Otaki trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard, Bonham broke from an outside gate and was stuck wide throughout the race.

That didn’t stop her surging forward to mount her challenge before the home corner, taking control in the straight and digging deep to withstand the late challenge from Brando to win by a neck. The rest of the field finished more than two lengths behind the first pair.

“She’s good, and she had to be good today,” Benner said. “Lisa tried to ride her positively with cover, but she lost that and had to go forward at the 700 metres.

“You can now call her a Group One-winning filly – that’s a feeling you never get used to. She does things only Group One horses can do. She’s a great walking filly with a beautiful action.

“Gary (Harding, owner) has been great to us and this will mean a lot to him.”

Allpress has been in the saddle for both of Bonham’s victories this week.

“I wasn’t having a lot of luck three-deep, and I could hear Johno and Hollie in my head,“ she said. “I thought I need to trust my horse – she was fit and ready for today and a very fast mare, so I knew they would have trouble coming from behind her.

“I think I’ve lost my voice from screaming at her. She doesn’t need the whip, she just needs a push to get her over the line.

“Johno and Hollie are my biggest supporters, so I’m delighted to get the win for them.”

Out of a Redoute’s Choice mare, Bonham became the fourth individual Group One winner for successful Little Avondale Stud stallion Per Incanto. Book 1 of Karaka 2021, which runs from January 24 to 26, features 21 Per Incanto yearlings.

Vendor	Little Avondale Stud
Purchaser	Mr GE Harding (Waikato)
Breeding	Per Incanto – Fortune’s Choice
Sale	Lot 45, Karaka 2019 Book 1, $160,000
Bred by	Little Avondale Stud