Miller happy with Bonjoy in raconteur

Trainer Jason Miller is excited about the future prospects of his three-year-old filly Bonjoy and is optimistic she can live up to his expectations at Belmont on Saturday.

Jockey : Steven Parnham.
Jockey : Steven Parnham. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Jason Miller is pleased with Bonjoy's progress since her return win two weeks ago and is looking for that momentum to continue in the Listed Raconteur Stakes (1400m).

Miller expected Bonjoy to run well first-up and the daughter of Maschino delivered, coming from last position and hitting the line strongly to win by 1 ¼ lengths.

Miller is looking forward to testing Bonjoy at black-type level again.

"She pulled up really good," Miller said to The Races WA.

"I've always thought she was a Saturday filly.

"From what she does at home she is impressive."

From five starts Bonjoy has recorded three wins and a second.

Her only flop came in last year's Champion Filles Stakes (1600m) when finishing ninth to stable mate Admiration Express.

"She went amiss in the Champion Fillies and just pulled up a bit jarry," Miller said.

"But she has come back in great order."

Admiration Express proved a star for Miller in the autumn, finishing no further back than third in a top campaign of stakes racing.

She won the Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m), placed second in the Challenge Stakes (1500m) and third in the Natasha Stakes (2200m) and WA Oaks (2400m).

With Admiration Express on the sidelines for an extended period recovering from a knee injury, Bonjoy can fill a lucrative void for Miller.

He says on their work at home previously, there was not much between Bonjoy and Admiration Express.

"Through their work Bonjoy had the upper hand," Miller said.

"We've always had a big opinion of her.

"I don't think she would have beaten Admiration Express in the Champion Fillies if I'm honest.

"But I dare say I would have been pretty confident she could have filled a placing."

Steven Parnham has been booked to ride Bonjoy in the Raconteur Stakes.

Clint Johnston-Porter, who has not been beaten on Bonjoy, opted to take the mount on Vast Art.

Johnston-Porter won last year's Raconteur Stakes on Devoted.

Vast Art is currently the $4 favourite with Tabtouch. Bonjoy is $7.50.

Splitting the pair is Rusty Dreams ($4.40) and Rear Admiral $5.

Vast Art and Bonjoy have drawn barrier one and seven respectively.


Racing and Sports

Belmont Park

Saturday, 03rd June 2023

10
16:10
(local)

RACONTEUR STAKES (LR)

Age: 3yo Type: OPEN
AUD $125,000
1400m TURF GOOD
10
16:10
(local)
AUD $125,000
1400m GOOD

RACONTEUR STAKES (LR)

Age: 3yo Type: OPEN
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 2. VAST ART (AUS) 3yo G
FLYING ARTIE (AUS) - FAST GAL (AUS)
CLINT JOHNSTON-PORTER
DARREN MCAULIFFE
$7
56.5kg
Impressive Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: K S Berry), C M Perkins, K A Sheppard, BM Green, Mrs S L Walker, S J Artemis, Mrs S Clark, D Gibson, M S Griffiths, A Lucev, G McLearie, G Meckenstock, H A Money, B M Wood, Mrs B Putland, D Putland, C W Blackwell, G F Comben, J Dowen & Mrs D N Pratt
2nd 5. RUSTY DREAMS (AUS) 3yo F
UNIVERSAL RULER (AUS) - SHE DONE HIM WRONG (AUS)
CHRIS PARNHAM
M L LANE
$2.7
54.5kg
Canal Enterprises (Mgr: P Z Capararo), M F Lewis, Mrs N M Repacholi, A P Repacholi & J A Dixon
3rd 3. UPPER LIMITS (AUS) 3yo G
EXOSPHERE (AUS) - DEFAR (AUS)
PATRICK CARBERY
JEREMY EASTHOPE
$15
55kg
J R Easthope, B Pillar, R C Easthope, G J Higgins, P J Easthope, P A Ellard, C M Jones, K Davis, Dr S Soemartopo, J A Bartlett & Miss B Nash

Sales Information

4th 6. REAR ADMIRAL (AUS) 3yo F
ASTERN (AUS) - MIREILLE (AUS)
JORDAN TURNER
S & J CASEY
$3.4
54kg
5th 4. EXCELTRAIN (AUS) 3yo G
SPIRIT OF BOOM (AUS) - CITRAIN (AUS)
WILLIAM PIKE
DANIEL & BEN PEARCE
$19
55kg
6th 10. BONJOY (AUS) 3yo F
MASCHINO (AUS) - AMITY BELLE (AUS)
STEVEN PARNHAM
JASON MILLER
$9.5
53kg

Sales Information

7th 9. ARCADIA STAR (AUS) 3yo F
PIERRO (AUS) - ARCADIA (AUS)
MICHAEL POY
MICHAEL GRANTHAM
$41
53kg
8th 1. SAINTORIO (AUS) 3yo G
ORATORIO (AUS) - LEITFADEN (AUS)
BRAD PARNHAM
STEPHEN MILLER
$12
57kg

Sales Information

9th 7. ARID (AUS) 3yo F
DEMERIT (AUS) - MYSTIC PINDAN (AUS)
PETER KNUCKEY
STEPHEN WOLFE
$26
54kg
LR 8. PEARLY NUGGETT (AUS) 3yo F
SNIPPETSON (AUS) - PEARLESQUE (AUS)
JOSEPH AZZOPARDI
STEPHEN MILLER
$101
54kg

Sales Information