Bon Amis has been without his regular work rider and didn’t have a jockey until race morning but his latest Rosehill win indicates not much fazes him.
Punters also dismissed the lack of a declared rider for the Jason Deamer-trained sprinter who has been favourite for most of the week and started at $4.40 in Saturday’s ATC Members Sprint (1100m) at Rosehill.
A broken foot has stopped Deamer riding work at his Newcastle base and jockey Rory Hutchings, who rode Bon Amis to his recent Rosehill win, was in Perth on Saturday.
Deamer opted to wait until race day and snared experienced rider Glyn Schofield for the best horse in his stable who has had former jockey, Kris Lees’ foreman Cameren Swan, as his morning work rider.
“I got jumped on by a horse, not Bon Amis, and broke my foot,” Deamer said.
“I’m used to riding my own horses so it’s a bit different but Cameren has been riding work for me and my staff have been great.
“When Rory couldn’t ride Bon Amis, I decided to wait and got Glyn.
Schofield settled Bon Amis behind the leaders and brought him to their outside to sprint clear and beat Jorda ($14) by 1-1/4 lengths.
“He’s got speed and with the tempo on, it really suited him,” Schofield said.
“It was a late call for the ride but I was happy to take it.”
Bon Amis was advertised on the internet and cost his owners $4000.
He has now earned more than $300,000 with the promise of more.
“I think a race like the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford in January could suit,” Deamer said.
“We might find another similar race to today beforehand.
“He has appreciated being fresh. He hadn’t raced for four weeks before today but he had had a jump-out.”
Deamer prepared Bon Amis for last year’s Provincial Championship over 1400m in which he finished a creditable fifth behind Serene Miss.
But the trainer has decided to concentrated on shorter sprints with the gelding whose two wins from two stars this preparation have been over 1100m.
