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Group One sprinting spoils in Australia have been rare for Kiwi gallopers in recent times.
But that's not dissuading Matamata trainer Ken Kelso as he plans the spring programme of ace filly Bounding.
Instead Kelso reasons that Bounding has already broken a 33-year jinx on three-year-old fillies winning the Gr. 1 Railway Stakes at Ellerslie earlier this year so she's already proven she can break new ground.
And besides, the Lonhro filly has pleased him no end since returning to training about a month ago.
"She's been back in work nearly a month and she's coming along really well," Kelso said.
"I'll just play it by ear with her. Whether she kicks off here or goes straight to Australia, it's probably really just down to track conditions. It's hard to set a programme for horses at this time of year here but the plan is to get her to Australia for the two Group One sprints in Melbourne.
"It all hinges on how she's coming up but if we go straight to Australia, she'll probably have a trial here first. Otherwise we'll try and find a suitable 1200m race here for her before we go."
Bounding's sprint aims are the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on October 24 and the VRC Classic at Flemington on November 8.
Bounding made her Australian debut in the Gr.2 $A500,000 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Randwick as part of the Sydney autumn carnival, going down by a short neck behind Sidestep.
At home, Bounding had a near-flawless record, winning five of her six starts and running a desperately unlucky second in the Gr.1 1000 Guineas when she was trapped three-wide throughout in an eight-horse field.
She had earlier beaten Group One winner Recite resuming at Taupo last August before claiming the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings - beating 1000 Guineas winner Costa Viva - and the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial Stakes at Te Rapa.
She won the Railway Stakes first-up on New Year's Day and was again fresh-up when winning the Gr.3 Mr Tiz Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie in March against her own age.
Her season exploits have seen Bounding named among the finalists for the sprinter and three-year-old categories for the annual horse of the year awards.
Kelso, who trains in partnership with his wife Bev, believed Bounding's best chance for honours came in the sprinting category.
"She's got a royal chance in sprinter of the year," he said.
"She was the first horse since Gold Hope to win the Railway against the older horses as a three-year-old filly in 33 years and she carried more weight than Gold Hope did too."
Bounding had six starts in the sprinter distance category, winning all five of her New Zealand sprinting starts before her Royal Sovereign Stakes second.
The other sprinter of the year finalists are Viadana, Survived, Irish Fling and Veyron.