Bondy gave Woodend Beach trainers David and Catherine Butt their biggest win with success in the $A400,000 Hunter Cup at the final harness meeting at Moonee Valley on Saturday night.
Bondy is owned in Ashburton by Peter and Jocelyn Cates with their daughters, Nikki Copland and Joanne Lovett.
The Live Or Die-Killarney gelding was bred by R Hockham and W C Pearce, of Victoria and bought by his owners through the 2003 premier yearling sale for $24,000.
Bondy is the first foal of Killarney, an unraced mare by Falcon Seelster.
She is a half-sister to Talk About Charles, a prolific winner in Australia.
He took a record of 1.50.6 in the United States.
Bondy led for most of the way and rated 2.01.7 for the 3065m.
The 8yr-old missed the New Zealand Cup in November through a blood disorder.
He had won the New Brighton Cup and Hannon Memorial at Oamaru in the spring.
Bondy resumed racing last May after being sidelined for 14 months with a fractured pedal bone in a hind foot.
He has now raced 40 times for 21 wins and $587,000 in stakes. Mr Cates has had other wins in Australia with City Rogue, winner of the 2001 Australian Derby at Moonee Valley, Bogan Fella (1999 Ben Hur) and Magic Fella.
City Rogue was trained by Robin Butt, father of David.
Sundon's Gift joined Pride Of Petite as a back-to-back winner of the Interdominion Trotting Final.
He led for most of the way on Saturday night in the $A250,000 mobile event.
The Mark Purdon-trained Pride Of Petite won the final in Melbourne in 1996 and Adelaide the following year.
Sundon's Gift is trained by Chris Lang, his driver.
The Sundon-Landora's Gift gelding was bred by Trevor Allingham, of Pukekohe, and sold at the 2003 Australasian classic sale for $24,000.
Courage To Rule, winner of the $A200,000 Victoria Derby, is trained at Papakura by John Green, who races the gelding in partnership.
The Courage Under Fire-Rule The Roost gelding was sold for $55,000 at the 2008 premier yearling sale by Paul Browman, of Ladbrooks.
Courage Under Fire won the 1999 Victoria Derby.
Cullen Bromac, the top-priced colt at the Auckland sale last February when sold for $150,000, won the 2yr-old race on Saturday night.
The son of Christian Cullen and Classic Blue Jeans was sold by Bromac Lodge, Prebbleton.
The New Zealand-bred Cincinnati Kid capped a great night for New Zealand standardbred breeding by winning a free-for-all at Moonee Valley on Saturday night.
