Cala Bonita back to winning ways under Colgan A winner on turf earlier in the season, the Matthew Smith trained Cala Bonita recorded a second career victory when keeping on strongly under Robbie Colgan to take Division l of the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap at Dundalk. Prominent from stalls, the 9/1 chance chased race leader Alumni Lia before coming through to lead early in the home straight. Briefly headed by Venetian over a furlong out, Cala Bonita rallied to regain the lead over 150 yards out. Staying on best close home, the three-year-old scored by one-and-three-quarter lengths. “I thought she’d take a bit of beating, she was in great form at home,” said Smith. “She was sluggish the last day over that trip. We tried cheekpieces on her and they sharpened her up. “Robbie said she might improve again, stepping up to a mile-and-a-half. He thought she wasn’t doing a stroke in front. “She’ll be going to the horses-in-training sale at Newmarket in October. She’s a grand filly, she goes well at home. “You could probably put a line through one or two of her runs in the summer when things just didn’t go right for her. “Other than those two runs she doesn’t have bad form this year, she’s had two seconds and two wins.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
