Divine Okay, ridden by apprentice Bailey Wheeler, salutes on the Gold Coast poly track, giving Kendrick Racing the first leg of a Saturday double at different tracks.
SPRINTER Bonaparte (main photo) showed he has shrugged off injury when he went bang first-up in a metropolitan race at Doomben.
Ridden by Justin Huxtable, Bonaparte ($21) timed his run perfectly, finishing strongly to arrive just in time as the post loomed in an Open (1200m) on Saturday (July 22).
It was his first start since October last year following a long layoff.
“It was a fantastic win,” said trainer Stuart Kendrick.
“He spent two weeks at the vet hospital and had to have surgery when we were preparing him for the Magic Millions Cup,” he said.
“He had trialled well leading into the race, but with such a long time off still has plenty of improvement fitness wise.
“We will look to target a few nice sprints and then aim him at the summer sprint series.”
Bonaparte now has eight wins and 11 placings from 35 career starts for more than $330,000 in prizemoney.
His win completed a Saturday double at different tracks for the stable, with Krew Racing-syndicated galloper Divine Okay breaking through on the Gold Coast poly track.
Ridden by apprentice Bailey Wheeler, Divine Okay ($3.70) won convincingly by two lengths in a Class 2 (1050m).
It was his first win in four starts for the stable since arriving from the Bjorn Baker stable earlier this year.