A three-run campaign culminating in the Australian Guineas is the autumn preparation for the Ciaron Maher-trained Bon Aurum.
The three-year-old makes his return in Saturday’s Manfred Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
The colt will then tackle a 1400m race before the Group One Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 5.
Bon Aurum completed his preparation for a first-up run with a jump-out at Caulfield on Tuesday, but Maher warned the colt is not wound up for his return.
“He’s good enough to head to the races with the aim of improving through the first couple of runs and to have him right for the Guineas,” Maher said.
Bon Aurum scored at Flemington over 1400m in September before winning the Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on September 26.
After finishing ninth to Press Statement in the Caulfield Guineas in October, Bon Aurum underwent minor knee surgery and was sent to the spelling paddock.
Maher said Bon Aurum had done most of his lead-up work at the beach at Warrnambool before returning to his Caulfield stables.
“We sent him down there for a softer, low-impact style of training,” Maher said.
“He’s had a few gallops down at Warrnambool but he’s also done a fair bit of work in the sand dunes.”
With Bon Aurum having undergone surgery Maher said he had kept the colt lighter in condition through the early stages of his preparation.
Maher said as Bon Aurum progresses further into the campaign the three-year-old would put on the weight to cope with the demands of training.
Bon Aurum wasn’t asked to do a lot in the jump-out in which he was pitted against the Peter Moody-trained Bassett, Pasadena Girl and Wise Fella and the the Luke Oliver-trained Black Diamond Girl.
“It was a nice even gallop for him,” Maher said.
“It was quite a good trial he was in and he looked like he cruised up on the bridle.”
Luke Currie rode Bon Aurum in the jump-out and will ride the colt for the first time in a race 1200m on Saturday.
