Connections try to get to bottom of Bonita’s disappointing Cheveley Park run

Senorita Bonita will undergo blood tests as connections look to unearth a reason for her below-par showing in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Starspangledbanner filly proved a big disappointment in the hotly contested Group One, cruising through to lead at the furlong pole but weakening quickly and coming home well beaten in fifth behind Sun Goddess.

And while the training duo reported there was nothing obvious to explain away the run connections are hoping a deeper dive may show something was not quite right with the filly on the day.

Chris Wall, racing manager to owners Victorious Forever, said: “Simon and Ed were taking blood tests from her today (Monday) as there would have been no labs open over the weekend so we might know a little bit more later on.

“Essentially she looks fine and everything is okay with her and nothing obvious had come to light. There is no doubt it was a below-par performance but she came there to be competitive and I think she led in the dip.

“From there to the finish she just emptied out in the last furlong which isn’t her. Her strength, and the best part of her race, has usually been her strength of finish in the last furlong.

“That just didn’t happen on Saturday and Oisin (Murphy) very wisely looked after her.”

With both jockey and trainers unable to throw any light on the matter, Wall admitted that whether the blood tests reveal an excuse or not, Senorita Bonita has finished her two-year-old season.

“If something comes to light or not we will put her away for next year and keep the dream alive and see what we do when she is training in spring,” he said. “We were never thinking of doing Breeders’ Cups or anything like that and there is nothing else obvious for her.

“She is still a Group Two and a Group One winner at the end of the day and you can’t take that away from her.”