Wonder Boy breaks through in Bendigo Guineas

After a long wait, Wonder Boy returned to form in style by capturing the $200,000 Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m) on Saturday, marking his first win since a debut victory last June.

Jerome Hunter’s three-year-old gelding finally delivered on his early promise, scoring a maiden Stakes win and giving Hunter and owner Graeme Gathercole a satisfying result after months of patience.

“I’ve been happy with his whole preparation, a lot of people have gone off him, but I’ve had faith in the horse and I know he’s just going to get bigger and better as he gets older,” Hunter said.

“I was in Queensland with Barb Raider when Graeme Gathercole asked me to go down and have a look at him and we bought him as a weanling.

“So, it’s been a long time and to get him to win a Listed race, it’s fantastic.”

Backed as the $3.10 betting site favourite, Wonder Boy was given a textbook ride by Jamie Mott, who settled him just off the pace before pouncing late to defeat Kalkallo by half a length. Rue De Royale ($4.80) boxed on gamely for third, a neck away.

“I thought if we could begin good, I had the leader inside me in barrier seven, that we could potentially slide over and come with it and it worked out perfectly,” Mott said.

“I got across really easy and he travelled great. He is a horse that hits a bit of a flat spot, but late he really got into gear and it was a good win.”

With a Phar Lap Stakes placing behind him, Hunter now turns his attention to the upcoming Queensland carnival, with ambitions beyond Bendigo.

“The Queensland Guineas is in three weeks’ time, so we’ll aim for that and we’ll just see where we’re at with him after that what we do but, long-term, as long as he gets his rating up, I’d like to go for the Golden Eagle.”