Bond and Bradford go a long way back

The relationship between the Bond and Bradford harness racing families goes a long way back and today the memories were rekindled when Stella Bay (Majestic Son) won at Ascot Park.

Trainer Lyndon Bond’s father Jimmy trained horses for Murray Bradford in the 1970s when Bond senior trained Sly Dancer. She only raced once but became a good broodmare for Bradford, leaving a host of winners including Crafty Kooba, the first ever winner of the Southern Supremacy Stakes.

As well as Crafty Kooba which won ten races, Bradford raced Ata Lord (6) and Cle Vallee (6).

“It’s good for Murray because he’s had horses with Dad all his life. He’s continuing to support me. He comes down every morning, does the yards and helps my wife Aimee with the jog team. So its good to get one on the board for him too.”

Stella Bay is out Aleana which won six races – one for Ray Jenkins and five for Riverton Beach trainer Holly Crackett.

STELLA BAY REPLAY

Neville Cleaver who has raced members of this family, bought Stella Bay for $15,000 from her breeder Murray Darnill when she was auctioned at the 2021 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales.

“She arrived one day on a Majestic horse float before Neville told us she was coming. We got her running along as a two year old and she looked very promising, then she went sore. She had about a year out. She’s qualified, run four seconds and today everything went right. She got to the front and she held them out,” Lyndon said.

Stella Bay hasn’t been at her best on small tracks and seems to run better on the larger circuits.

“She gets her head round, leans in and was getting on a knee. Franksie our blacksmith has done some farrier work and hopefully we’re on the winning side of it.”

Prior to today’s win driver Blair Orange gave Stella Bay a good strong preliminary.

“She pulled his arms out last week and he came back and said that his arms weren’t as big as mine. We also gave her some strong work this week just to take the edge off her so she wouldn’t pull so hard for poor old Blair.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink