Trainer Jerome Hunter eyes Queensland winter carnival with Bendigo Guineas winner Wonder Boy

Wonder Boy scored a deserved win in the Bendigo Guineas to book a trip to Queensland, and trainer Jerome Hunter is confident the best is still ahead.

Wonder Boy powers home to win the Bendigo Guineas. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Wonder Boy booked a ticket to Queensland with victory in the Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m).

The favourite, trained by Mornington horseman Jerome Hunter, dug deep in the straight to wear down gallant leader Rue De Royale and then kick as runner-up Kalkallo threatened late.

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“It’s been a while (10 months) between wins for this horse,” Hunter said.

“I’ve been happy with all of his preparation, a lot of people going off him, but I’ve had faith in the horse and I know he’s only going to get bigger and better as he gets older.”

Wonder Boy put the writing on the wall last start in Sydney, second in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes.

The three-year-old Cosmic Force gelding tracked Rue De Royale in the run and knuckled down late to set up a tilt at the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) on May 3 at Eagle Farm.

Wonder Boy holds on in the Bendigo Guineas!

Jamie Mott with a double at [e-mail]/pGkS9kVpl4

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 12, 2025

“Last preparation he was just a big young kid, now he knows what he has to do,” Hunter said.

“Long term, as long as he gets his rating up, I’d like to go for the Golden Eagle.”

Hunter bought Wonder Boy as a weanling for owner Graeme Gathercole.

“It’s been a long time and to get him (Wonder Boy) to win a Listed race is fantastic,” Hunter said.

Rue De Royale over-raced early in the Bendigo Guineas but stuck on boldly to lead until the last 50m.

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ZLOT TO LIKE

Zloties will be aimed at stakes races interstate after her Gold Bracelet (1400m) win at Bendigo.

The Grahame Begg-trained mare finished over the top of Lovazou and Extratwo with an electric turn of foot late.

Begg has two options in mind, either the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) on April 26 in Adelaide or the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) on May 3.

“She was very dominant late,” Begg said.

“The pace was nice and even and she got into a good rhythm … she was very strong late.

“I’m sure she’ll relish a good speed whichever one she runs in.”

Jockey Jordan Childs endorsed the five-year-old mare’s stakes potential.

“She won’t have any trouble getting stakes grade next to her name,” Childs said.

“She’s got a really electric turn of foot … it’s good that she’s got options, wherever she goes she’ll be hard to beat.”

Zloties with a nice turn of foot races clear! @[e-mail]/ulBbbsIuRV

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 12, 2025

KILLIANA STRIKES GOLD

Killiana absorbed a wide run without cover to win the Vobis Gold Rush (1100m) at Bendigo from Salty Pearl and Wintery.

The Lindsay Park-trained favourite, who won on debut at Bendigo in March and then placed fourth in The Showdown, responded to the urging of jockey Michael Dee to kick strongly in the straight.

Co-trainer JD Hayes praised the tenacity shown by Killiana to win under duress.

“It wasn’t a pretty watch … three deep, no cover is never easy,” Hayes said.

Manolo Bling blistering on speed!

Luke Cartwright has a Saturday metropolitan double!@[e-mail]/RJbegNFGkj

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 12, 2025

CARTWRIGHT ON THE MONEY

Manolo Bling sealed a first metropolitan double for apprentice jockey Luke Cartwright with an all-the-way win on Saturday in the 1100m 3YO Open Handicap at Bendigo.

Cartwright, who two races earlier notched a first Saturday city winner on Heavenly Eagle, pinched an insurmountable break on Manolo Bling to salute on the heavily backed favourite.

“I wanted to roll forward, keep her happy, and try and steal it at the 400m,” Cartwright said.

“With the light weight today it worked to my advantage.”

Manolo Bling had only 51kg on her back with 3kg claimer Cartwright aboard.

Manolo Bling blistering on speed!

Luke Cartwright has a Saturday metropolitan double!@[e-mail]/RJbegNFGkj

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 12, 2025

Originally published as Trainer Jerome Hunter eyes Queensland winter carnival with Bendigo Guineas winner Wonder Boy