Thoroughbred Daily News – Bonfire

In Sharper Focus – TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 1/26/12 • PAGE 6 of 9 • thoroughbreddailynews.com

BONFIRE (GB)

1st Dam: Night Frolic (GB), by Night Shift

2nd Dam: Miss D=ouilly (Fr), by Bikala (Ire)

3rd Dam: Miss Satin (Fr), by Satingo (Ire)

Not seen until late September, Bonfire (GB) (Manduro{Ger}) quickly established himself on the international racing scene and, according to the World Rankings, there were ultimately very few better juveniles than him at the end of last term. At the outset of his Classic year, the exciting bay colt who carries the hopes of the famed Highclere Thoroughbred Racing syndicate, will bid to add some more luster to the honor roll at Park House Stables, Kingsclere. That Newbury-based training establishment is now under the care of Andrew Balding, son of Ian who orchestrated the career of the great Mill Reef and other luminaries such as Lochsong (GB) and Selkirk.

After a fluent debut win over a mile at Salisbury, the half-brother to last year’s G3 Musidora S. winner Joviality (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) was deemed unlucky to be only third in the G1 Criterium International over that trip at Saint-Cloud on his other outing at the end of October. It was a strong-closing effort in a deep race that offered much hope that 2012 could be a momentous year for all involved. He is already one of the bargain buys of recent times, having cost John Warren just 90,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale. Highclere supremo Harry Herbert was on hand this week to tell the story so far.

“John knew this horse well, as he and my sister Carolyn bred him and he was always a yearling that caught their eye, especially when he was being prepared for the sales,” Herbert revealed. “As you can imagine, I would not buy a Highclere homebred readily for obvious reasons, but this horse was an absolute standout as an individual and we had heard how much John Gosden liked his half-sister, Joviality. I was thrilled to buy him for 90,000gns, although my sister was less than happy at the time, as she expected him to make considerably more!”

Sire Manduro, who earned the ultimate accolade from Andre Fabre, was also responsible for the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Mandaean (GB) from his first crop and Herbert is firmly on the side of the Kildangan Stud resident.
“I was a huge fan of Manduro when he was racing and it didn’t entirely surprise me when Andre Fabre described him as the best horse he had every trained,”he said. “He always seemed to travel so well in his races and then produced that devastating turn of foot which marked him out as an exceptional racehorse.”

Bonfire is out of Night Frolic (GB) (Night Shift), whose immediate family includes the high-class Karen’s Caper (War Chant) and Miss Coronado (Coronado’s Quest) and whose yearling colt by Duke of Marmalade (Ire) made a splash in Newmarket in October.
“Night Frolic herself comes from a prolific black-type family and so, on paper, Bonfire has every chance of competing at the highest level. The Duke of Marmalade half-brother sold for 340,000gns at last year’s Book 1 Sale at Tattersalls. He was bought by Demi O’Byrne, and as an individual, is another stunning animal who honestly could be anything.”

TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 1/26/12 • PAGE 7 of 9 • thoroughbreddailynews.com

Bonfire’s early reputation went before him at two and he proved the vibes were right during his brief but dramatic autumn campaign. Herbert takes up the story again.
“Andrew always liked the horse and it was clear to see from early on in the spring that he was an athletic individual who got to the top of the gallops with the minimum of fuss,” he explained.
“He has always been quite a lively character at home, which is why Andrew decided to pony him to the start when he made his debut at Salisbury. He was expected to run very well on his debut, but none of us expected him to make such an impressive racecourse debut. He showed a tremendous turn of foot that day and it turned out that his division of the maiden was significantly faster than the other one.
The Criterium International was the right sort of event for him, timing-wise, and I am a great believer in having a go at a good race if you think you have got a special horse. We did the same with Motivator after he won his maiden at Newmarket when he went on to win the Racing Post Trophy on his second start. I think that there is no question that he would have won at Saint-Cloud had he been able to get out of the pocket that he was trapped in. I don’t blame Jimmy [Fortune] at all, because if you look at the replay there was no chance at any stage of the race of being able to get into a different position unless he had literally pulled him to the back of the field in order to come around horses, which would have meant losing a tremendous amount of ground.”

With that vital experience of top-flight racing behind him, Bonfire’s immediate future concerns the Classics and one in particular. The first Saturday in June is very much on the agenda, according to Herbert. “He had a long holiday at Highclere Stud during the winter and was very relaxed out in his paddock,” he continued.

“He has made tremendous physical improvement over the past few months and he certainly has the look of a very good horse. He has been back in full training with Andrew for three weeks and has recently been introduced to the equine treadmill. The programme after the Tattersalls Millions 3yo Trophy [over 10 furlongs at Newmarket’s Craven meeting in April], depending how he gets on in that race, will most probably be a Derby trial, such as the G3 Chester Vase or the G2 Dante S.
I think that he should stay a mile and a half and the Derby will most certainly be his primary objective. His half-sister, Joviality, who won the Musidora last year didn’t stay further than a mile and a quarter, but she was by Cape Cross and so, with Manduro adding stamina to the top line, I would be quietly confident that he would get a mile and a half. Personally, I believe that he will go on any ground, as he has such a good action.”

TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 1/26/12 • PAGE 8 of 9 • thoroughbreddailynews.com

Few syndicates get to experience the ultimate thrill of Classic glory, but the Royal Ascot Racing Club lived the dream when Motivator (GB) streaked to success in the 2005 renewal of the blue riband. If Bonfire emulates that dashing individual in the more familiar Highclere livery, it would provide a pinnacle moment for the firm. “It would mean everything, as the Derby remains the most important race to win and to achieve it in the pale blue silks of Highclere would be every bit as emotional as it was with Motivator winning for the Royal Ascot Racing Club that I manage,” he says.
“At Highclere, we put these syndicates together with the aim of giving our shareowners the best possible chance of competing at the highest level and over the years we have been fortunate enough to have raced seven European Champions including the World Champion Harbinger, proving that the Classic dream really is within reach. With Bonfire, we just might have another horse who could take us to those amazing heights once again.”

Bonfire represents the Pocahontas syndicate within the Highclere set-up and Herbert revealed that the group has something else to excite them and it may be that Epsom’s Oaks provides another focus this year.
“The Pocahontas Syndicate is made up of two horses and 20 shareowners at a cost of ,12,950 per share. Vow (GB), the other horse in the syndicate, is a lovely daughter of Motivator and a half-sister to the top-class performers Beaten Up (GB) and Harris Tweed (GB). She was too immature to race as a 2-year-old, but showed plenty of natural ability on the home gallops. Hopefully, she will be seen out in the spring and we will take it one step at a time with her. She is very well liked by William Haggas, as well as his wife Maureen, who rides the filly out each morning. Last year, she also rode Dancing Rain, who won the Oaks, so let’s hope that lightning can strike twice!”

by Tom Frary