Bondy is hard to go past in the Hannon Memorial free-for-all at Oamaru tomorrow after his splendid form.
He has won five of his six starts in the past three and a-half months. He proved superior to a similar field under ffa conditions in the New Brighton Cup at his last start.
His trainers, David and Catherine Butt won the Hannon last year with Ohoka Rebel.
Steph's Caesar has been scratched at Oamaru after a training accident on Thursday.
"He was being jogged when he took fright from another horse and ended up with a shaft through his neck. He will be out for a couple of months," Terry Chmiel, his co-trainer said.
"I was expecting a big run at Oamaru."
Steph's Caesar has not raced since July when he completed successive wins at Forbury Park.
• Mark Purdon reached 1000 wins as a trainer in New Zealand with Breath Of Life at Alexandra Park. He also drove Breath Of Life.
Purdon, who is based at Rolleston with another stable at Pukekohe, began training in the 1995-96 season. He was then based at Papakura.
He has trained 794 winners in a sole capacity with a top tally of 89 in the 2000-01 season. He took Grant Payne into partnership in the 2007-08.
