IF anyone thought that the New Zealand breeding industry’s influence on stamina was on the wane they just needed to be at Randwick to see the completion of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman’s Derby-Oaks double. Having already won the New Zealand Oaks by half a length in March, Bonneval, a daughter of Makfi was sent out as joint-favourite for Saturday’s Australian Oaks.

No half-measures required, the result was a resounding four and a half length-margin with the top five spreadeagled across 14 lengths.

“I really think she might be better than just a handicapper in the spring, I think she could develop in to a weight-for-age horse,” said Murray Baker. “She is very good and that was a brilliant ride by Hugh Bowman, he is so patient. When they are going that hard, they have to come back to you eventually and Hugh summed up the situation perfectly.”

With the heat in the race being set by the Victoria Oaks winner Lasqueti Spirit, Bowman, near the tail, didn’t panic. Stoking up Bonneval with 600 metres to run she had targets to chase before sweeping to the lead. Second went to Poet’s Voice filly Perfect Rhyme, while the Beneteau filly Lasqueti Spirit toughed it out for third.

“When I was slow away I thought, what do I do here, do I press on or do I just be patient and bide my time? That’s exactly what I did and this filly didn’t let me down,” said Bowman of the NZ$150,000 purchase from the New Zealand Bloodstock 2015 National yearling sale.