Bond's stirring comeback

By Jordan Gerrans

After more than a decade away from the bike on race day, veteran reinsman Gary Bond couldn’t be happier with the results he has achieved in his comeback term.

The 53-year-old drove in one winner late last year as he dipped his toes in the water for his return to the sport.

The comeback has picked up serious momentum in 2025 as he has quickly racked up 30 winners to his name and there is every chance there is many more to come before the new season commences in January.

Bond was back in the winner’s circle on Tuesday afternoon at Redcliffe as he collected a heat of the popular Cup Day at the Bay series.

Driver Bond combined with trainer Gary Gerrard to take out the third heat of the four from ‘The Triangle’ with in-form mare Absolutely Stoked.

The four-year-old mare's racing name details how pleased Bond is with his form so far in 2025 following the lengthy break from the industry.

“I am pretty happy with where I am at with it all,” he said.

“It took a while for me to get used to everything as so much is different now, different gigs and so many other things, the racing styles, as well.

“I think I have adapted pretty well and I am always learning.

“I think I have had a pretty good year so far after 10 years away.”

The 30 winners so far this term is a significant achievement for Bond as he mainly drives for small-time trainers and is not backed by a big stable to give him regular opportunities.

He is bordering on a career milestone in the sulky, as well. 

He has 299 victories to his name and will soon bring up the triple ton.  

As well as preparing a small team of standardbreds alongside trainer Alex Johnson, Bond works in IT away from the industry.

Bond was prolific as a trainer and driver during the 2000s and into the following decade.

His high-mark as a reinsman was 38 winners back in the 2012-2013 term while as a trainer he collected 27 victories as a recent career-best across 2008 and 2009.

He won several Group-level events with horses such as Smarty Jones and Super Falcon.

Bond and the Buccan-based Johnson prepare a team of seven – three babies and four racing – and that has been key to the returning reinsman’s success.

“We have promised ourselves that we will keep the numbers small and have fun with it,” he said.

“When I am having fun, then I will do something a lot better than when I am not.

“I needed the break from racing and I am glad I did it because I am having fun doing it now.

“Everything is going well at the moment as we have a few nice babies coming through, as well.”

A total of four heats of the Cup Day at the Bay series were held on Tuesday at the traditional non-TAB meeting at Redcliffe to coincide with the Melbourne Cup and the Redcliffe club’s regular Cup Day function.

The Final will be held on November 12.

The first of the four heats was the quickest as Diego Delgado from the Melissa Kendall stable, while being driven by impressive youngster Layne Dwyer, won by a sizeable margin. 

But, Bond believes Absolutely Stoked can give the decider a shake.

The four-year-old is unblemished in her last three trips to the Redcliffe surface.

“She is going great in her last three starts, they have all been good,” the returning reinsman said.

“She is finishing her races off well now.

“She sits in there and does what she needs to do, she can follow the speed and I think she can sit on any speed in the Final regardless of what they run.

“If she is up on the speed, she is very hard to beat. She is flying at the moment and winning easy.”

Bond praised the training job Gerrard has done with Absolutely Stoked as she was rarely in the money in her previous racing stint in New South Wales.