York Ebor Festival 2015: Great Voltigeur Stakes preview (15.05)

Bondi Beach looks decent value to provide top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien with a third winner of the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes on day one of York’s Ebor Festival (15.05).

The colt is one of three representatives for the Ballydoyle handler in this year’s renewal of the 1m 4f contest and has a progressive profile.

After being nudged out to beat stable companion Bantry Bay by a short-head on his debut at Leopardstown, Bondi Beach was arguably given too much to do when staying on strongly from well off the pace to be beaten 1/2 a length in a 1m 4f Listed contest at the same venue.

The beautifully bred son of Galileo then got back to winning ways in the Group 3 Curragh Cup when last seen in action, posting a career best performance to beat stable companion Order Of St George by a short-head.

Bondi Beach was value for more than the winning margin as jockey Seamie Heffernan dropped his whip a furlong and a half from home, and it was to the three-year-old’s credit that he responded well under a hands and heels ride to get up on the line.

It was an effort which suggested Bondi Beach needed keeping firmly onside, and although this demands more he remains unexposed and is clearly on an upward curve.

The fact that Joseph O’Brien has chosen to partner him over Aloft and Giovanni Canaletto, who both have proven form at Group 1 level, also looks a big plus and suggests that Bondi Beach is the stable number one.

Storm The Stars brings the strongest form to the table and looks the obvious danger.