Pacing: Ohokas Bondy cracks track record

Crack three-year-old colt Ohokas Bondy is on target for next month’s $200,000 WA Derby after a brilliant win in the $17,500 South Western Times Battle of Bunbury at Donaldson Park on Saturday night.

Ohokas Bondy, driven by regular reinsman Colin Brown, was untroubled to lead throughout in track record time over Bunbury pacer Falcon Elect and Black N Bettor.

The Greg Bond-trained pacer rated a sensational 1min. 56.3sec. for the 2100m trip, just .1 sec. faster than the previous record held by Schinzig Buller.

Ohokas Bondy, a former Kiwi, is now undefeated in 10 WA starts as he marches towards the WA Derby at Gloucester Park on April 8.

The Bettors Delight three-year old won three races in New Zealand from his first 10 starts, but has continued to blossom under the guidance of Bond.

Brown made it a double in the sulky when he scored with his own runner, McInanga, in the Embroidme Conditioned Handicap.

McInanga began well from the 10m line and fought on well to defeat Busselton pacer Arts Gangsta and California Dreams.

Bunbury trainer John Graham and reinsman Reon Tither combined to land a double on the program.

The pair were successful with Clifford in the Schweppes 2YO Pace and Our Mega Dream in the Vibrations Music Pace.

Clifford shapes as a leading juvenile race contender after he broke early, then worked forward to find the front before winning by 11m over Courtneys Best and Rich In Spirit.

Former Kiwi Our Mega Dream, runner-up at his first two runs back, was a stylishwinner over North Toa Luckstar and Hesapleasure.

Smart five-year-old So Talk About Courage remains undefeated in three WA starts after a stunning victory in the Jonny Taylor Pace.

So Talk About Courage was sent forward by trainer-reinsman Bob Mellsop to race without cover and he wore down the pacemaker, Hooza Cleva Dan, to claim victory by nine metres.

As Wicked As battled on to finish third.

Mellsop is in rare form afterwinning the Hankook Tyres Great Southern Derby with Touch Of Tango at Harvey last Thursday.

Touch Of Tango now looms as one of the leading fancies for this Friday night’s $30,000 Hankook Tyres Country Derby Final at Gloucester Park.

Other winners on what was a great night of pacing action included Grumpys Girl, Trigmart and Bunbury filly Villa Couture who claimed the Tresslyn Smith Fillies and Mares Pace at the generous odds of $71.20.