Having drawn barrier 13 of 14 in the Breeders’ Plate at Randwick, Bodyguard was re-routed to Melbourne for the Listed Maribyrnong Trial up the Flemington straight, and he did not disappoint on his race day debut, powering clear with his ears pricked to dominate the field.
Settled towards the rear in a packing field, once into the daylight under jockey Craig Williams, Bodyguard powered through the pack to win by an expanding margin under just hands and heels riding.
His win followed the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate win for fellow JHB Colt Partnership alumnus Espionage, the two colts having filled the quinella in their heat at the first official 2YO trials at Kensington back on 18th September.
Bodyguard was secured from the Emirates Park Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year, and congratulations must also go to breeders Emirates Park, having also bred Gimcrack Stakes winner Manaal.
Big thanks to Peter and Paul Snowden and their team, who had Bodyguard perfectly prepared for his debut, and congratulations to owners Belinda Bateman, Fergus Doyle, Rob Love, John & Frances Ingham, Gary Diamond, Danny & Pauline Saab, Marc & Lindy de Stoop, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, Jean-Dominique & RIanna Huynh and Emirates Park Stud.