Trainer Ben Ahrens added to his growing reputation as a top trainer of stayers when promising Underthebonnet was successful at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.
Underthebonnet ($2.30) showed his potential as a stayer when the four-year-old downed Goldcat ($2.15 fav) by three-quarters of a length in Wednesday’s Sky Racing Handicap (1815m).
Ahrens praised winning jockey Chris Munce for a perfect ride on Underthebonnet who only entered his stables following his failure in the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes at Doomben in May.
“Steele Ryan used to train him but I’ve had him for all five runs this preparation,” Ahrens said.
“He’s been very consistent and deserved this win but a lot of credit goes to Chris Munce.
“It was a top ride. He swapped the whip over to his left hand when the horse wanted to get out and then swapped it back over when he hung the other way.”
Underthebonnet was handed to Ahrens to train because his stable is based at Beaudesert, south of Brisbane, where the gelding’s owners reside.
“I only got him cause his owners live down my way,” he said.
“His owners were looking for a trainer after Steele Ryan decided to cut his numbers back after the winter carnival.”
Ahrens is unsure how far Underthebonnet will progress in distance but is confident the gelding will measure up to Saturday class.
“I think he can win on a Saturday and he’ll get better over a bit more ground,” he said.
“He settled well once he jumped which is a good sign for the future.
“I don’t think he’s a true stayer just yet but in time he may be.”
Ahrens, a former physiotherapist, emerged as a training force 12 months ago with Spechenka who won three straight in Brisbane before heading to Sydney to claim the Group Three Summer Cup (2400m) at Randwick on Boxing Day.
Spechenka is currently spelling after Ahrens took him south for the spring in the hope he would get a start in the Melbourne Cup.
“Unfortunately he had a few issues when he was in Melbourne,” Ahrens said.
“I was trying to get him into the Melbourne Cup but he cut his leg and jarred up after he ran in the Geelong Cup.
“He’s still spelling but when he tells me he’s ready to come back into work I’ll get him ready for the Brisbane Cup next year.”
AAP TURF
