Bondeiger to target Guineas

Trainer Danny O’Brien is already targeting a third Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) victory in five years.

Having won the race with Shamrocker (2011) and Shamus Award (2014), O’Brien is aiming AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) runner-up Bondeiger towards next year’s renewal.

O’Brien said the Guineas would be the son of War Pass’ first goal before a potential trip to Sydney for races such as the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and ATC Australian Derby (2500m).

“He’ll be second-up into the Australian Guineas, which is a formula which worked with both Shamrocker and Shamus Award, then we’d potentially go to Sydney from there,” O’Brien told RSN’s Racing Ahead.

“Shamrocker had a similar Spring to him, she ran second in the Oaks, and came back and made huge improvement winning both the Australian Guineas and the (ATC) Australian Derby (2400m) and I wouldn’t say those races are out of reach for him.

“He’s got that sort of improvement in him. He only had the one run at 1000m as a two-year-old and he’s had a good grounding now during the Spring and I’d expect him to make really good improvement during the autumn.”

In related news, O’Brien said Prompt Return had pulled up well following his victory in Saturday’s Group 3 Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) at Flemington and was on track for the $200,000 Magic Millions Clockwise Classic (1000m) at Ballarat.

“He’s come through the run particularly well, he’s eating, he’s happy and his shins are nice and cold and I expect he’s improved from Saturday,” he said

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