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| Staff Writer |
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Bodyguard, trained by Peter Snowden, has made a stunning return to the track, dominating the opening Rosehill trial with a six-length victory. The talented colt, clocking an impressive 1m2.81s for the 1030m distance, has reignited hopes for his connections after a setback earlier in the year.
Owner James Harron finds himself in a bittersweet situation, as his primary Everest contender, Espionage, has been ruled out of the Spring Carnival due to a minor injury sustained during training. This unfortunate turn of events has opened up a potential opportunity for Bodyguard to make a late bid for Harron's vacant Everest slot.
Bodyguard's juvenile campaign showcased his early promise, with victories in the Maribyrnong Trial and Gr.3 Blue Diamond Prelude. These performances positioned him as a leading contender for the Gr.1 Golden Slipper, where he ultimately finished unplaced behind Lady Of Camelot.
With the Everest looming on the horizon, Harron and Snowden face a race against time to determine if Bodyguard can step up to fill the void left by Espionage. The colt's impressive trial performance suggests he may have the necessary class, but connections will be carefully assessing his progress in the coming weeks.
The Everest, Australia's richest race with a purse of US$15 million, has quickly established itself as one of the world's most prestigious sprints since its inception in 2017. Previous winners of this 1200-metre contest include Redzel (2017, 2018), who went on to amass over US$10 million in prize money, and Nature Strip (2021), who later claimed victory in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Snowden, speaking after the trial, expressed cautious optimism: "He's come back in great order and that trial was exactly what we wanted to see. We'll take it one step at a time, but there's no denying his talent."
Harron, while disappointed about Espionage, remains upbeat about Bodyguard's prospects: "It's a tough blow losing Espionage for the spring, but that's racing. Bodyguard has always shown us plenty, and today's trial was very encouraging. We'll let the dust settle and make a decision on our Everest plans in due course."
As the spring carnival approaches, all eyes will be on Bodyguard's progression. Whether he can make the leap from promising juvenile to Everest contender remains to be seen, but his emphatic trial victory has certainly put him in the conversation for Australia's weight-for-age championship of sprinting.