Bonfire – biggest thorn in Camelot’s way to success in the Investec Derby?
With a smashing victory in the Group 2 Betfred Dante Stakes at York on 17thMay, 2012, Bonfire’s esteem has been raised among his connections, and he poses a big threat to Camelot, who has been declared a favourite for the Investec Derby,
which is scheduled to take place at Epsom on 2nd June, 2012.
Trained by Andrew Balding, the three-year-old raced with all he had and worked well with rider, Jimmy Fortune.
The duo successfully broke all barriers and finished first, ¾ of a length ahead of Ektihaam, who is trained by Roger Varian.
The John Gosden trained Fencing finished third, 4 lengths after the runner-up, while the race favourite, Ernest Hemingway, fell behind and finished last.
Bonfire, son of Manduro, out of mare Night Frolic, has competed in three starts, with a victory in two and a single third place finish.
The bay colt gained significant interest in his seasonal debut, where he raced as a favourite with a winning shot of 7 to 2.
Under rider, David Probert, the colt proved himself worthy of all the attention as he triumphed in the British Stallion Studs E B F Molson Coors Maiden Stakes (Div II) at Salisbury on 28th September, 2011, where he defeated,
Cubanita, by 2 lengths.
The Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-Pocahontas owned colt faced a slight setback in the Criterium International (Group 1) (2yo Colts & Fillies) at Saint-Cloud as he finished third.
This season, he has made a great comeback and redeemed himself with this victory. Balding was satisfied with the unexpected victory as he commented:
"It was very good. I was getting a bit uncomfortable with all the hype because he's not a brilliant work horse and he's done it in flashes this spring, so it was a relief to get him out.
"He behaved like a professional most of the time and he did it very well in the race. Jimmy was very impressed. It was a truly run race and a proper trial. The second has had a run already this season and Jimmy felt we were getting a little leg weary
inside the final furlong, not through lack of stamina but through lack of race fitness so that is all the more encouraging.”
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