Bonds Look to Vampiro

22 November 2018 | Ken Casellas
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The all-conquering Greg and Skye Bond stable is in dazzling form and punters will follow their eight runners at Gloucester Park on Friday night with keen interest.

All have winning prospects, with, perhaps, Vampiro appearing to be the stable’s brightest prospect, despite drawing the outside barrier (No. 9) in the $25,000 Enrique Aldana Free-For-All over 2130m.

Vampiro, a talented New Zealand-bred five-year-old, again will have the services in the sulky of leading reinsman Ryan Warwick, who will have options from the outside barrier. Warwick is likely to give Vampiro time to settle down before choosing the right moment to send him forward into the firing line.

Vampiro has been freshened up since he was a stylish winner of the group 2 James Brennan Memorial three Fridays ago when he began fast from barrier three, took up the running after 120m and sped over the final quarters in 28.1sec. and 27.8sec. in beating his Our Jimmy Johnstone at a 1.57.1 rate. That followed his head victory over Maczaffair, rating 1.55.2 in the group 2 Mount Eden Sprint over 1730m two weeks earlier. From barrier six, he raced three wide for the first 350m and then had a tough run outside the pacemaker Maczaffair.

Nine-year-old Devendra has drawn perfectly at barrier one and Aiden de Campo (who will be driving the gelding for the first time) is likely to make use of his good gate speed. Another veteran in Sokys Big Bullet is favourably drawn at barrier three and Lindsay Harper appears certain to issue a strong challenge for the early lead.

Vampiro’s main dangers appear to be Rocknroll Lincoln (barrier seven), Runrunjimmydunn (eight) and Rock Diamonds (the solitary runner off the back line).

Greg and Skye Bond have struck a purple patch and when Warwick drove Thisbeachrighthere to victory at Gloucester Park on Tuesday evening it gave the outstanding trainers nine winners from ten starters, with Warwick driving all those runners.

The winning run began at Gloucester Park last Friday night when Galactic Star won race five and Mighty Conqueror race six before Lincs Tiger had no luck when blocked for a clear passage until late when third behind Sunrose Village in race eight.

Then the Bonds and Warwick had three starters Bitcoin, The Lightning Strike and Saying Grace for three wins at Kellerberrin on Sunday. Another three runners Starlight Destiny, Ana Malak and Bettor Aim were all successful at Pinjarra on Monday and the winning sequence continued with Thisbeachrighthere on Tuesday.

The Bonds hold a commanding lead in the Statewide trainers’ premiership with 59 wins, 17 seconds and 16 thirds from 118 starters to lead from Gary Hall snr (25 wins, 20 seconds and eight thirds from 100 starters). Warwick leads the drivers’ premiership table with 61 winners, 24 ahead of Chris Lewis and 30 more than Dylan Egerton-Green in third place.

Apart from Vampiro, the Bond camp will be represented on Friday night by El Jacko, Our Max Phactor, Dodolicious, Rock Diamonds, Fizzing, Lincs Tiger and The Lightning Strike.

 

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