Maranoa Charlie captains strong Bond squad at York

Rhyl Journal

4 days ago

Although trained by Christopher Head in France, the Prix Jean Prat runner-up will have plenty of support when he represents the racing entity of the late Reg Bond which is now overseen by son Charlie, as he seeks Group One compensation in the newly-upgraded Sky Bet City of York Stakes.
'Christopher has said he is in great form and is looking forward to bringing him over for the Group One,' said Charlie Bond.
WOODSHAUNA WINS THE PRIX JEAN PRAT! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/LV5oMMdCJ3
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 6, 2025
'This has been his aim ever since the Prix Jean Prat and we will just have to see what turns up, but his determination and how he battles against horses is tremendous and his main asset.'
Maranoa Charlie may be the main attraction for the Bond Thoroughbred team, but the owners – who hail from nearby Pocklington – received a boost on Monday when Paddy Twomey's Bonus Time booked her ticket to the Knavesmire in winning at Naas.
Bond added: 'She was identified by Paddy when she was in the Ascot sale and she's got a lovely pedigree by Too Darn Hot. He had seen her racing in Ireland and she was good at Naas.
'She heads to York now for the seven-furlong handicap on the Thursday (British EBF Fillies' Handicap).'
Twomey could also saddle once-raced two-year-old Bond in the British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes, while the likes of Pocklington, unbeaten three-year-old Big Leader and recent course scorer Air Force One are all trained locally by Geoff Oldroyd and pencilled on the York teamsheet.
'Hopefully the Reg Bond colours can land a winner at the local track and one of the best racecourses in the world,' continued Bond.
'We're flying at the moment and having plenty of winners and Paddy is running at a 35 per cent strike-rate for us and Geoff Oldroyd is at 30 per cent which is pretty much amazing.
'We've quite a big team going to York. Pocklington will go for the six-furlong handicap on the Saturday (Sky Bet Constantine Handicap) and we expect him to have a big chance as he just had a big row of horses in front of him and had to try to switch out last time.
'Big Leader is unbeaten, he's won three out of three and we've had some big offers come in for him. We're not interested and he will head for the Sky Bet Mile Handicap on the Friday.
'Paddy is bringing Bond across for the Convivial, he was very green first time out round a bend in Ireland, but we're hoping he can be very competitive.
'We will also run Air Force One who won over five furlongs last time, but is now trying to get five and a half furlongs on the Wednesday (Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap). He's all-out speed and I'm sure he will be near the front with half a furlong to go, it's just if he lasts home.
'It's great that we have this team for York. We missed Royal Ascot with some of ours, which was hard to do, but at the end of the day we knew we would have a team ready to go for York and hopefully we have some lively chances.'