PONSONBY'S BARGAIN BUY BREAKS THROUGH AT DUBBO

SATURDAY: March 7, 2026: TALK about a bargain buy!

He fetched $100,000 as a yearling and never raced before James Ponsonby bought him online in January for only $1500.

Two starts later Farnan three-year-old Claudio has already earned $22,375 for the Hawkesbury trainer’s wife Keryn, boosted by a Dubbo breakthrough yesterday which also carried a BOBS bonus.

Ridden by Mathew Cahill, Claudio ($5) defeated Mr Gunna Do ($8.50) and Fortians ($4.80) in the Maiden Handicap (1100m).

That followed a debut second at $16 in a Mudgee Maiden Plate (1100m) on February 21.

So why was Claudio sold without racing for the Sydney stable of successful Melbourne trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr?

“He had an operation for a wind infirmity,” Ponsonby explained today.

“I’ve been keen to train a horse by Farnan (2020 Golden Slipper Stakes winner), and really liked this fellow on type.

“I looked at his 900m trial at Rosehill Gardens in December and, whilst he ran sixth of seven, he was wide all the way.

“The form out of that trial has been good, and he was a Farnan I was able to buy at the right price.

“Claudio ran really well at Mudgee, and I was confident he would be hard to beat yesterday.”

Ponsonby said Claudio had pulled up well from his Dubbo victory, and he would search for another suitable country race in the coming weeks.

Claudio was Ponsonby’s fifth winner of the season, and the former standardbred trainer-driver’s 65^th as a thoroughbred trainer.

Ponsonby took three horses to the Dubbo meeting, and was also pleased with his old-stager Will To Excel’s second in the Benchmark 66 Handicap (2200m).

It was the rising 11-year-old’s 70^th start, and it was his 16^th placing along with eight wins.

“Hopefully we can pick up another country race with him soon,” Ponsonby said.