'Bright future': Bondasong trainer excited at what lies ahead after galloper's runaway win

Talented four-year-old gelding Bondasong has Wyong trainer Kim Waugh excited at what lies ahead as she attempts to maintain its unbeaten record at Kembla Grange on Wednesday in the Metal Transport Industries Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1200m).

Waugh produced Bondasong, a son of Your Song and Pins mare, Bondarenko, for a debut outing at Gosford on January 17 and the galloper handled horrendous conditions to score a runaway win as a $1.50 favourite.

"It was a pleasing performance, and he lived up to what he'd shown us on the track and in his trials," Waugh said of Bondasong.

Bondasong had finished second and fourth in two barrier trials at Wyong and on the Beaumont track at Newcastle before his first race start at Gosford. Keagan Latham was aboard in the Wyong trial and stuck with Bondasong for the Gosford win.

"It was a terrible day as far as the weather goes when he raced at Gosford," said Waugh.

"The rain was torrential during his race, but he handled it well, as you'd expect being by Your Song. He got through the conditions with ease and scored by a big margin and that was exactly what we wanted to see.

"He's pleased us since then and everything points to him running very well again."

Latham sticks with Bondasong at Kembla Grange, with the galloper that was bred and raced by the Johns family that formerly had Typhoon Zed win The Galaxy also bound for better races.

"He's a horse with plenty of upside and, all going well on Wednesday, I'd like to think he has a bright future," Waugh said. "After Wednesday we will assess where we go with him."

Latham has four rides on the six-race card at Kembla Grange.

In addition to Bondasong, he will ride Yesglenn for Warwick Farm trainer John Steinmetz in the PFD Foor Services 4YO Up Maiden Plate (1600m).

Latham takes the ride on the Diane Poidevin-Laine prepared Cap D'Ail in the Master Builders Association Midway Maiden Plate (1300m), while he links with John Thompson when partnering last start winner Deep Emotion in the Express Smash Repairs Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1300m).

(Selections based on a good track)

RACE 1

8. Meritage has yet to be placed from four starts in a race but showed encouraging signs when resuming with a fourth placing at Canberra and then following that up with a last start fourth at this track. She looks to be on an upward spiral and Pierre Boudvillain, who was aboard last time out, sticks with the mare in this event from a good gate. 4. Walk Like A Man has shown ability in his nine-start career and got into the placings for the first time when a last start second at this track behind Marebello. He only needs to run up to that effort to be hard to hold out in this event. 2. Don's Party was only stepping out for his second start in a race when finishing second at this track last time out in the same evet Meritage contested. A repeat of that would have him hard to hold out in this. 1. Belgrano was placed in his latest two starts before being spelled and resumed with a second at Queanbeyan earlier this month. Another bold showing is on the cards.

How to play it: Meritage WIN.

RACE 2

2. Malbork Castle has shown ability in his career with two wins and seven placings to his name from 16 starts. He comes into this on the back of a last start third behind Allegro Miss at Canterbury and only has to run up to that effort to be hard to hold out in this. 1. Viktor steps up in distance here and ran home well enough last time out when fourth behind Harlow Mist on the Kensington track at Randwick. He can run a bold race here. 5. Powerful Prayer followed a strong win on the Beaumont track at Newcastle with a last start third at this track over this distance. 7. Flaming Moon hit the line well to score at Orange at her last start.

How to play it: Malbork Castle WIN.

RACE 3

1. Manukau has had five starts and has finished second in four of them. She has run second in both runs back from a spell at Hawkesbury and Warwick Farm and went down fighting when not beaten far last time out. She gets her chance to win here. 2. Declan is on debut after a number of trials and bears close watching. 3. Juvenal is also on debut and has had five trials in total to prepare. 4. Plume is another on debut and has trialled well in each of four hitouts either side of a break.

How to play it: Manukau WIN.

RACE 4

1. Bondasong looked good in two trials before making his debut in driving rain at Gosford and doing the job well to score by a big margin on debut. He looks talented and can go on with the job here. 2. Classic Pocket won well at Wyong at his second start in a race and can show up again here. 3. Firework resumed from a spell with a Gosford win and should be prominent again with a repeat of that. 5. Aisle Two was a winner at this track before being spelled and can run a bold race here fresh.

How to play it: Bondasong WIN.

RACE 5

11. Sister's Run is a filly by Contributer that has only had one start when finishing last of seven at Hawkesbury last June. She's since had two trials leading into this return to racing and looks set to sprint well fresh on the back of those efforts. She ran fourth in the latest of those trials at Randwick. 3. Cosmic Avenger was midfield on the Kensington track at Randwick when resuming from a spell and can be thereabouts here wit the benefit of improvement from that run. 6. Zougotme was placed at this track last week and can get into the minor money again with a repeat of that. 13. Tahurangi ran third at Gosford in November and has since finished seventh and eighth at Gosford and on the Beaumont track at Newcastle respectively, beaten just over 2.5 lengths in the latest start.

How to play it: Sister's Run EACH WAY.

RACE 6

2. Octa De Lago is a highly talented galloper that has looked good winning two of seven starts and finishing second in two other runs. He ran second at Hawkesbury and on the Beaumont track at Newcastle in his first two starts back from a spell before charging home to score a win at Gosford when last produced. He only needs to run up to that effort to be the one to beat again. 1. Inoue is a three-time winner from 13 starts and since winning at Hawkesbury in October has finished second at Gosford three starts ago behind Still Alice. He drops in grade here having contested a Saturday event at Rosehill at his latest start when finishing seventh behind the unbeaten Bev's Nine. 8. Deep Emotion did the job well when scoring at double figure odds at this track at her latest start and she can show up again with a repeat of that performance. 4. Cheeky Dancer won a couple on end before being spelled and resumed with a seventh at Gosford.

How to play it: Octa De Lago WIN.

Race 1 (8) Meritage.

Race 4 (1) Bondasong.

Best value: Race 5 (11) Sister's Run.

Disclaimer: While the thrill of horse racing can be captivating, it's important to remember that gambling is a form of entertainment and should be enjoyed responsibly. The tips and opinions expressed in this article are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.

If you or someone you know is affected by problem gambling, help is available. For free and confidential support, please contact:

GambleAware NSW

Gambling Help Online

Remember, it's okay to ask for help.