Smart mare quickly blows pre-race worry away

Andrew Forsman had a slight reservation about Bonniegirl continuing her outstanding first-up record on Saturday, but any doubt was quickly put to one side.

The Cambridge trainer, who prepares the black type contender with Murray Baker, was able to watch with pride from afar when she bolted away with the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race at New Plymouth.

“I was just a little bit concerned that she might get into an awkward spot from the draw, but it was all over in 200 metres once she got to the front,” said Forsman, who was attending to stable runners at Ellerslie.

Bonniegirl crossed the field under Jonathan Riddell to make the running and when she was given more rein into the straight the Darci Brahma mare left her rivals to it.

She went to the line with four and three-quarters lengths on Heni to remain unbeaten in four first-up assignments. Te Hana came home well to cut It’s Bianca out of third.

“She’ll probably go to Hawera next for the fillies and mares’ race, we’ll have another crack at that with her,” Forsman said.

Bonniegirl finished a close fifth in the Gr.3 Rich Hill Stud Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes last season before she gained a stakes credit with her third placing in the Listed NZB Leasing Sprint at Hastings.