Racing: Game of Thrones in Taupō

Jon Snow captured the group three JRA Cup at Moonee Valley and will return to Melbourne in the spring. Photo / Getty Images

It is harder to imagine a scene much further from the glamour of the Melbourne spring carnival than an empty Taupō racetrack on a cold Tuesday morning.

But for two of New Zealand's best gallopers, one thing could lead to the other.

Reigning Horse of the Year Bonneval and her ATC Derby winning stablemate Jon Snow ventured to Taupō yesterday as their next steps on campaigns aimed at races such as the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

There was nothing particularly special about Taupō yesterday, no official trials and nobody there to watch the pair, barring the staff of trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.

But the attraction was a firmer track surface than anywhere the trainers could find closer to home and the chance to change things up for the millionaire pair.

"It served a couple of purposes," said Forsman of the unusual private trial.

"The track was about a dead5, which is hard to get at this time of the season so they had a good stride out.

"And it is also a break from their usual routine, to freshen them up mentally."

Both horses were successful in Melbourne last spring, Bonneval winning the Underwood at group one level, after which she temporarily held favouritism for a Caulfield Cup that ultimately never went her way.

Jon Snow captured the group three JRA Cup at Moonee Valley and ran third to Gallo Chop in the Caulfield Stakes but on tracks firmer than we would have liked battled bravely in the Caulfield Cup and eventually missed the Melbourne Cup.

A strained suspensory ligament saw Bonneval miss the Sydney autumn as well but scans on that area are positive and the pair could be joined by NZ Derby winner Vin De Dance and Sydney Cup runner-up Zacada in giving Baker and Forsman some serious potential Cup numbers for the spring.

Although Bonneval will almost certainly race exclusively in Australia, Jon Snow could be a surprise runner in the first group one of the season, the Tarzino Trophy at Hastings on September 1.

"He is very well and being a colt was a bit sharper than Bonneval today," said Forsman.

"He got away on her at the 200m and while we were happy with the way they both worked, he is obviously closer to a race."

The pair and a truckload of their stablemates are likely to head to the Te Teko trials in two weeks after which their spring plans will come more sharply into focus.

"But Jon could definitely go to Hastings for that first race, which would give him a run under his belt on what shouldn't be a hard track before we go to Melbourne," said Forsman.

The record-breaking stable could have Francaletta, who also galloped strongly at Taupō yesterday, in the Tarzino as well as the most in-form mare in the country in New York Minute. Both could use the Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa (August 18) as their lead-ups.

Francaletta could eventually join the Melbourne assault in the spring while rising three-year-olds Botti (VRC Derby) and fillies Peaceful and Rubira are others who could be on the plane to Melbourne.

Forsman is not stunned the stable has broken their previous New Zealand record of 114 wins in a season but pleasantly surprised they have managed to stretch it out to 141 wins, with the potential of one or two more this final week of the season.

"I thought we might be able to break our own record but the 141 is a big number that took a lot of work and support from a lot of people

"But we are just as proud of the fact we have trained 20 stakes winners here for the season, which is a personal best for us, and to have our strike rate in the 5s (5.74) with so many starters is also pretty pleasing."