Bondarenko Looks Good At Geelong

A filly with a Gr 1 pedigree got her career away to the perfect start in Melbourne yesterday when Bondarenko posted a stirring performance to win on debut. The three-year-old showed a good turn of foot to sweep hone down the outside of the synthetic track at Geelong in the hands of apprentice Rosie Myers who is making the utmost of her stint in Australia.

Bondarenko is by the farm’s current Centaine Award pacemaker and Australian Guineas winner Pins from the unraced Zabeel mare Match Pint. She is out of the Garry Chittick-bred and raced Gr 1 Otaki-Maori WFA winner Critic, a daughter of the influential Centaine who will add another New Zealand Broodmare Sire title to his collection at the end of this season.

A $40,000 buy for Team Corstens from WS’s Select Sale draft to Karaka in 2009, Bondarenko’s family tree also features the Gr 1 Easter Handicap winner Prince Kaapstad. A half-sister to the winners Laver Arena (Centaine) and Kathy O’Reilly, Bondarenko is prepared at Flemington by John Sadler.

Pins completed a trans-Tasman double when the promising Sans Souci from a long break to win in trying conditions at Te Aroha. A debut winner at two and a black-type placegetter in the Listed Castletown Stakes, the half-sister to the Gr 2 Concorde Handicap winner Ego had not raced for nine months but overcame a heavy track to score for trainer Jason Bridgman.