Breeders’ Cup bid tempting Maranoa Charlie team

A decision over whether Maranoa Charlie races on is still to be made after his heroics in the Prix de la Foret, with a trip to the Breeders’ Cup a tempting proposition.

Owned by the Yorkshire-based Bond Thoroughbred team, Christopher Head’s ace delivered the Group One glory he had been threatening with a devastating display at ParisLongchamp – a performance that now leaves connections with plenty of food for thought regarding the colt’s future.

“It was amazing, Christopher was very confident before the race and I had also done a lot of talking so it was time for the horse to do the talking and he certainly did that,” said Charlie Bond, director of Bond Thoroughbreds, reflecting on his day to remember in the French capital.

“Christopher calls us ‘the guys’ and he said in the ring before the race ‘guys, this is the best horse I have ever trained and he will show you this today’. It’s a very bullish statement considering how deep the race was, but he’s some judge.

“Taking the hood off made a huge difference to him and there was no flat spot this time, he just went and won it with a bit in hand in the end.”

Bond had suggested prior to the Foret that a victory in Paris could signal the end of Maranoa Charlie’s racing action, such was the interest from breeders keen to make the talented son of Wootton Bassett a stallion.

And although he admits his phone has continued to be “red hot”, the lure of adding to his top-tier haul at Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup Mile could prove too much to ignore.

“The phone has been red hot so all I can say is watch this space really,” continued Bond.

“No decision has been made yet, Christopher was showing us earlier the stats and his stride pattern is eight-metres long which is something which he has never seen before.

“He said it’s just extraordinary and you probably saw that between the three-furlong pole to the two when he bounced clear of the field. He was described on the TV as a beast and that’s probably the best way to describe him.

“I think he would like the turning track at the Breeders’ Cup, I think it would be right up his street. But I think it will be clear by the end of the month (what we do).”