Phantom Bonnie ready to fire

By Isaac Murphy

Phantom Bonnie has been a phenomenon for Malcolm Ross.

The bitch beat home a cracking field, winning last year’s Casino Cup and has since added a track record to her list of accolades, which include 16 wins and over $50,000 in prizemoney.

Despite everything she’s achieved on the Northern Rivers, Ross thinks she’s ready for an extended Thursday night 500-metre campaign, beginning in a tough mixed Fourth and Fifth Grade tomorrow night, with a couple of handy kennelmates along for the ride.

“She’s won too many races down here, I’ve been having to race her over the short course where she’s more than competitive,” Ross said.

“She broke Cosmic Bonus’ track record not long ago, but I think she’s capable of more and that’s why we’re coming to Albion Park and the 500.

“It’ll be interesting to see how she goes this week, she’s only had the three 520s - all at Ipswich in her career - and they were some time ago.

“It might take a couple of weeks, but we need to get her race fit.

“I’m just hoping she can jump on the bunny from the two and open up a bit of a break down the back, she’s definitely going to get tired but just how tired we’ll see tomorrow night.

“There’s some serious competition; Brother Jason, See Them Try, Werina Express - it’ll be tough.”

Ross knows it’s a process adapting to a new track and distance and is happy to make the long-term commitment over the traditional sprint trip.

“The plan is to give her four weeks up there on a Thursday night, I think it’d be a bit unfair to judge her on her first run at the track, all she’s had is a post-to-post six to eight weeks ago,” he said.

“I’m confident by that time she’ll adapt and hopefully we can look at some nice races through the Winter Carnival,  but she’s got plenty to prove before then.

“Wherever she’s been in the past she’s found a way to win, whether that’s good enough to go past Fifth Grade class on Thursday night, time will tell.”

Ross also brings 16-time winner Phantom Laurie to the track, wearing the white rug in the first heat of the Fifth Grade 600-metre contest, which Ross says he’s been crying out for.

“I took Phantom Laurie out to Taree for a look over the 537 metres and in both the heat and the final she was out the back early and running home,” he said.

“I think the 600 is going to be her trip, her trial times certainly indicate it.

“I could’ve put her in the Masters over the 500 but with two Fifth Grade heats over the middle-distance, I thought it was the perfect time to hopefully advance through this week’s heat and get another run in the final.

“She’s drawn a good one in Ninetymile King who she won’t be beating, but she should go forward in that field and show she belongs, I wouldn’t rule out the 700 with her soon as well.”

Phantom Laurie’s litter sister Jimary Dynamite is a similar style chaser, with the ability to wind up and let down and looks really well graded against the Masters.

“The Masters is a good starting point for Jimary Dynamite, she was racing well in that company about six weeks ago when she came on season, so I’m just treading carefully with her,” Ross said.

“She had the one run back where she was tailed off behind Kooringa Lucy and Phantom Bonnie at Casino, that was always going to be a fitness run for her before hitting the 500 again.

“I like her chances on Thursday, she’s drawn well in the three which should see her closer than usual and she can come from a long way back with her run home.”