Bondi Lockdown to change stables

Luke and Belinda McCarthy have taken over training duties of harness racing’s three-time Group 1 winner Bondi Lockdown (Somebeachsomewhere).

Aaron Dunn made the “bloody sad decision” to transfer care of his star pacer to Team McCarthy, who took the top four-year-old home to Cobbitty Equine Farm in New South Wales after Saturday night’s (Oct. 8) Victoria Cup meeting at Tabcorp Park Melton.

Dunn told thetrots.com.au that Luke McCarthy had offered him help with Bondi Lockdown’s recovery and path forward from a serious bleeding attack in the Smoken Up Sprint on October 1, and those discussions had progressed to the horse being sent interstate.

The Horsham trainer said it was tough to say goodbye to his champ, who has headed north with stablemate and paddock friend Shady Azz.

“The McCarthys are Grand Circuit trainers and they’ve got them racing for years,” Dunn, who owns the horse, said.

“He’s better in their hands than mine.”

Dunn said it was important to give Bondi Lockdown the best chance of success as another bleeding episode would see him banned from racing here in Australia.

Luke McCarthy said he had reached out to Dunn to offer his support and assistance in managing the horse’s issues and hoped the pool and water walker facilities at Cobbitty Equine Farm would be able to assist going forward.

“Hopefully it’s not a reoccurring problem,” he said.

“Mr Feelgood was a bit of a known bleeder and we swum him a lot. He went on to win a million dollars and a Victoria Cup.”

Bondi Lockdown has won 13 of 32 starts for Dunn, who trained and drove him to victories in the Group 1 VHRC Caduceus 3YO Classic and Vicbred 3YO Colts and Geldings Final in 2021 and 4YO Bonanza early this year.

by Tim O’Connor, for HRV