Bond backing Maranoa Charlie to go the distance at Deauville

North Wales Chronicle

02-07-2025

Monsieur Bond and Ladies Are Forever both famously flourished in the black and yellow spots of the late Reg Bond, who enjoyed Group One success in France as part-owner of 2014 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Move In Time.
Now with son Charlie now at the helm, the Bond Thoroughbreds operation has a growing broodmare band at Yapham Mill Stud near Pocklington and have added a touch of quality to the ranks by swooping for Christopher Head's crack French-trained three-year-old Maranoa Charlie, who is blessed with both a glowing pedigree and impressive on-track CV.
'The reason we bought him was his form, but to have a colt with the speed in the pedigree from Tiggy Wiggy and by Wootton Bassett was so exciting to add to the ranks with what Bond Thoroughbreds is trying to achieve in racing,' said Charlie Bond.
'Wootton Bassett is flying at the minute and he looks to have great stallion potential for a long way down the line. We have a big broodmare band now, so we do need to be looking towards the future as well.
'We saw his last win and the time of the race compared to the other racing that day and he won a bit cosily carrying a penalty. The previous owners were fantastic to deal with and will be joining us on Sunday at Deauville.'
Maranoa Charlie was subject to plenty of hype as a two-year-old when effortlessly winning his first three starts before seeing his momentum checked when upped to Group One level at Saint-Cloud in the final outing of his juvenile campaign.
Maranoa Charlie leads them all the way in the Prix Paul de Moussac! 🇫🇷
The high-class Lazzat took the Group Three contest last year, what next for @CHeadRacing's talented colt? pic.twitter.com/LWrJAGYuaI
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 8, 2025
However, he has left that minor blip in the past since returning this season, winning two Group Three contests to tee-up a return to the highest level at Deauville – which in turn could lead to a raiding mission to York for the upgraded Sky Bet City of York Stakes on August 23.
'The main race for him will probably be the City of York which Christopher identified and it is our home track, which I think will really suit him,' added Bond.
'Obviously we will see how he gets on stepping back into to Group One company on Sunday, Christopher is looking forward to running him and we'll get to see what level he is at.
'It's the best of the best in the Jean Prat and we're straight in there in a really hot race.
'But his stature, when you look at the videos we've been sent of him, has been impressive and we're really looking forward to seeing him in person.
'I'm also really looking forward to seeing him as a four-year-old. He's a great looking horse now, but the potential improvement at four looks to be there.'
Maranoa Charlie is one of eight standing their ground for the Deauville feature, with Harry Charlton's Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year and Charlie Appleby's dual Group One-winning two-year-old Shadow Of Light providing further British interest.