Trainer Brett Lazzarini will be hoping a reliable source can provide instant results when star apprentice Reece Jones partners Bonus Tempus at Gosford on Thursday.
The trainer-jockey combination have proven to be a formidable partnership whenever they have joined forces with seven victories and four placings from 21 starters at a competitive winning strike rate of 33.33%.
Five of those wins came aboard Lazzarini’s stable star Wild Chap including a victory in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle during the spring.
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Thursday will be the first time Jones pilots Bonus Tempus under race conditions in his seven career starts.
The son of Impending debuted in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery last year and has placed just once so far but Lazzarini believes a breakthrough isn’t far away.
Bonus Tempus produced his best run this preparation last start when doing his best work late to finish fourth on his home track behind Amigos No More at Kembla Grange.
Lazzarini expects his three-year-old will improve off that showing as he looks for a highly desired success in the Tile and Stone Warehouse Provincial Maiden Handicap (1600m).
“I think he will run a bit of a race,” Lazzarini said.
“He was a bit unlucky last start win he got caught on the fence through no fault of Grant Buckley’s.
“He gave him the gun run and he was just a victim of circumstance really.
“Reece jumps back on him and we’ve had a bit of luck with him.
“He’s got a phenomenal strike rate with us.”
Bonus Tempus has been well supported to be on the third line in betting with the Jason Deamer-trained Shigeru a clear favourite after placing at his past three runs.
Claire Lever’s Romantic Rock is the only other horse in single digits.
Lazzarini is hoping to continue to step up Bonus Tempus over more ground this preparation and hopes to target a race in town next start if the gelding can run well.
“I am trying to get him up over 10 furlongs and this is a stepping stone to the two mile run,” he said.
“He hasn’t had an ideal prep going into his last start over the mile and he will improve a lot off the other day.
“It’s been a bit of a nightmare to get him up over ground after running him over 1200m first up then back to 1100m.
“It makes you look like a bit of an idiot but there was nothing there for him but will run him over the mile twice than up to 1900 metres at Canterbury in a Three-Year-Old and Up Maiden if he is not successful on Thursday.”
This week, Lazzarini is poised to welcome the return of his stable star Wild Chap, which was a revelation for his yard last preparation with four wins and four placings.
The six-year-old went to the paddock after finishing near the back of the pack at Randwick in October but Lazzarini is set to aim high again with his son of Toronado.
“He gets back in the stable this week and we will start preparing for the autumn with him,” Lazzarini said.
“We’ve got a few nice babies coming through as well so it should be a really exciting 12 months or so for the stable.”
CROSS EXPECTS CONSISTENT OLLIE TO FIGURE PROMINENTLY
If trainer Bruce Cross had 10 horses like honest gelding All About Ollie, he’d be a happy man.
The consistent five-year-old may never scale the heights of the stars but Cross reckons he will win his share of races.
The Warwick Farm conditioner is keen to see him win another one at Gosford on Thursday after All About Ollie broke his maiden two starts ago with a classy performance at the same track.
The five-year-old trip is set to chase another success in the Sidcom Construction Class 1 and Maiden Plate (1900m).
“I think he’s one of the chances,” Cross said.
“He is such an honest horse and I am expecting he runs well although it is a step up in grade.
“He gives you all he has got. Once he has reached his fitness level, he’s such a little trier and you would be happy if you had 10 of him.
“It’s a suitable race, he handles most conditions but the barrier is a bit of a draw back.”
All About Ollie, a son of Group 2 winner Sidestep, carries the top weight of 59kg and has been handed the car park draw in barrier 12.
Cross said the game plan will be simple for top provincial jockey Jeff Penza from the tricky gate.
“To be honest, he has to go back from the gate,” Cross said.
“With the barrier position where it is at Gosford in the straight, it’s not a big run to the first corner.
“He has to go back and hopefully gets to make his own luck.”
All About Ollie has drifted in early betting where the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Grebeni is the top pick.
Grebeni is coming off a strong last start success at Newcastle over the mile and should appreciate the step up in trip after running through the line strongly in his maiden triumph on December 3.
Last start city winner El Bravo and the Nathan Doyle-trained Celestial Fury are both given a hope by the bookies from favourable draws.
Originally published as Gosford preview: Trainer Brett Lazzarini expects a cheeky run from Bonus Tempus