Wet weather has prompted champion New Zealand trainer Murray Baker to delay a planned barrier trial for NZ Horse of the Year Bonneval.
Melbourne Cup hopefuls Jon Snow and Zacada trialled at Te Teko on Monday and Bonneval was scheduled to do the same at Avondale on Tuesday.
But Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman, said the multiple Group One winning mare would be saved until next week.
“We’ve decided to wait and run her in one of those open trials before the first race at Taupo next week,” Baker told NZ Racing Desk.
“With a heavy 11 track to start with at Avondale and that’s without any more rain, we wouldn’t have got a real line on her.
“She’s coming along well and has been working with Jon Snow and he trialled well at Te Teko.”
Bonneval has not raced since February and as long as she acquits herself well in next Wednesday’s Taupo trial she will continue on a path to weight-for-age events in Melbourne.
Last year’s Australian Derby winner Jon Snow finished a close second after leading in his trial on Monday while Sydney Cup runner-up Zacada won his heat.
“It was his first decent hit-out since the Caulfield Cup,” Baker said. “He didn’t see the other horse coming and could have won the trial. “He’s a big, powerful horse and is coming up really well.
“He’ll either kick off at Hastings (September 1) or go to Melbourne for the Memsie Stakes (1400m) the same day at Caulfield.
“We really need a bit of rain in Melbourne for him. Caulfield and Flemington are such good-draining tracks now.
“We’re keeping our options open and the beauty with him is we can throw him on a plane at the last minute and not worry about him. We know he travels well.”
