The promising Alistair Gordon-trained three-year-old Dupont gelding Bunker Bill is being targeted at the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on October 31 and will certainly not be lacking support as there are a crowd of a passionate racing folk involved in the ownership syndicate behind him.

Gordon said the strikingly handsome bay’s participation in the Graham Beck would depend on the draw he lands and an alternative target would be the Listed KZN Guineas Trial over 1600m on the Greyville Turf on November 8.

He added, “He came out of his last run really well and I think he is looking for the extra distance.”

Bunker Bill was having only his third career start in that last race over 1200m at Scottsville and finished just 2,75 lengths behind the Gr 1-winner Guiness, who is an out and out sprinter. Furthermore, he was receiving only 4,5kg from Guiness, which meant he was 2kg worse off than weight for age, so it was an outstanding performance. He also had the promising newcomer Executive Power beaten by two lengths.

Further evidence of Bunker Bill’s potential is contained in his maiden victory over 1200m at Scottsville, which he won in commanding style by eight lengths on July 15 in his second career start. This race has provided one of the strongest maiden formlines of the season in KZN as the runner up African Ruler is unbeaten in two starts since, third-placed Land Of Legends has won his only start since, and fourth-placed Apollo’s Gift has won and been placed second respectively in his only two starts since.

Bunker Bill looks likely to provide fun for a group of owners who deserve a good horse as they are avid supporters of the sport.

He also has a heart-warming story behind him.

The cousins and close friends Bruce Armstrong and Peter “Pumpy” Lambert raced Bunker Bill’s dam Promise Me together with Alistair Gordon and his wife Jeannet. Under the experienced care of Gordon, Promise Me proved a consistent sort and won one race over 1450m at Clairwood, while also running several places ranging from 1200-1600m. Her career spanned three seasons from June 2008 until September 2010 and she ran 22 times.

The connections then struck a deal with breeder Mark Greene, giving her away on the condition they could in turn have her first foal for racing.

Greene was at that stage boarding his mares at the Sandown Stud farm of James and Joy Armitage in Stellenbosch.

Dupont, a son of Zafonic, has always been a good value sire having produced three stakes winners and nine stakes placed horses from 198 foals, 73% of which raced, while 45% of those runners won.

Among Dupont’s stakes winners was the Gordon-trained Lady Magpie, who won the Gr 3 King’s Cup over 1600m in 2011. Among the boys she beat that night was the subsequent J&B Met winner Martial Eagle.

Promise Me’s twice Gr 1-winning sire Labeeb was a big loss to Sumerhill Stud when passing away in 2006, having produced 12.5% stakes winners to runners, including four stakes winners and seven Black-type performers, in his first crop of just 31 foals.

James Armitage revealed that Bunker Bill was a “fantastically good looking foal from the word go.”

He appeared to be a natural and Armitage added, “When he was sent to Alistair he looked as good as any horse going to the yearling sales but hadn’t even been prepared for the sales.”

Bunker Bill has turned out to be amazingly well named. Most could be excused for believing he was named after Peter Lambert’s ebullient father Bill, who is known as KZN’s “Mr Racing” and sometimes by the nickname “Bunter.” However, the horse was in fact named after Mark Green’s father-in-law.

Peter Lambert decided to lease his share to Greyville’s “Box B”, which is usually the rowdiest box on course being frequented as it is by Peter and his twin brothers Ian and David and their equally festive friends. Gordon’s stepson “JP” Coppez and his wife Bronwyn have also taken a share. Bunker Bill therefore has a huge and passionate support base.

Meanwhile, Mark Greene has set up Ndoro Stud on leased land in Wellington, which was once the residence of the late Godfrey’s Gird’s JSE Listed Stud operation Oaklands.

He will be looking forward to the future progeny of Promise Me, which to date includes an unraced two-year-old colt by Warm White Night and a younger filly by Twice Over. Promise Me is currently in foal to Judpot.

In other Gordon yard news he confirmed that the three-year-old Argonaut gelding Beat The Retreat needed his run on Sunday at Scottsville when third to the two classy sorts Split the Breeze and Executive Power in a Graduation Plate over 1200m and added that he was looking for a lot further. Gordon believes Beat The Retreat, who finished 1,5 lengths at level weights behind the Equus Champion Two-year-old colt Seventh Plain in both a Gr 2 over 1100m and a Gr 1 over 1400m last season, will go a mile or even 2000m and is targeting him at the KZN Guineas Trial.

The yard’s promising three-year-old Trippi colt Monte Christo is being aimed at handicap over 1400m at Scottsville on the 18^th of this month.

Gordon is the longest standing trainer at Summerveld and has been associated with many good horses in his time. His yard, having had an upturn in fortunes last season, look to have good prospects for this season and Bunker Bill could well be leading the charge.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Bunker Bill (Nkosi Hlophe)