Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have lowered their expectations for He’s Our Bonneval who is set to commence his latest campaign at Sandown.
He’s Our Bonneval will be joined stablemate Pascero in the Ladbrokes Racing Club Handicap (1300m) on Saturday.
Expectations were high for He’s Our Bonneval when he arrived from the UK and on debut for Busuttin and Young scored a soft track win at Caulfield last June.
In six subsequent starts since the Caulfield victory, He’s Our Bonneval has been placed only twice, at Caulfield and most recently at Sandown after which he was spelled.
Busuttin and Young had considered an autumn start to He’s Our Bonneval’s preparation, but he was found to be suffering from a virus that swept through the stable earlier in the year.
He’s Our Bonneval showed he is on target for a profitable campaign with victory in a 1000m jump-out at Cranbourne on April 24.
“You always have plans but, like a lot of the team, he got a bit of a virus,” Busuttin said.
“So, we had to back off, but we’ve kept him for the wet tracks and brought him up a bit slower. He’ll pick off a few races over the winter.
“He’s a genuine each-way chance fresh up.”
Busuttin said there was no ambitious plans for He’s Our Bonneval over the winter months with the trainer saying he is not a spring performer.
“We just want to win races with him,” Busuttin said.
“Everyone is looking at what is in the future, but in reality, we are racing on Saturdays for $150,000.
“They’re good races to be picking off.
“He’s come up good and he’s a good fresh horse and will give a great sight first-up.”
Pascero will be having his second-up outing on Saturday after a luckless run at Sandown over 1400m on April 15.
“He should have won last start, but he needs a dry track,” Busuttin said.
“He’ll win a couple of races over the winter if he gets the right track conditions.”
