The Kiwi gelding enhanced what was already a staggering standing start record when he mile-rated 2:01.6 in the 2710-metre event.

The David Butt-trained eight-year-old coasted home to notch his 14^th standing start win at just his 16^th attempt and emerge as a genuine Hunter Cup contender.

Butt was pleased to see the son of Live Or Die sew-up a berth in this Saturday night's $400,000 Group 1, but he realises that assignment will be much tougher than Ballarat.

“He should get a run now, but I don’t know about being confident of winning,” Butt said post-race. “But he’s normally a good beginner, so he’s got a chance.”

Bondy zipped home the last 800m in 55.9 seconds to clip seven-tenths of a second off Divisive’s track record, set in the same race two years ago.

On the line he had almost nine metres to spare over Pacific Charm with Road To Rainbow a half-neck back in third spot.

It was Bondy’s first start since finishing fifth to Karloo Mick at Ashburton on October 26 and Butt suggested he’ll be much fitter in the Hunter Cup.

“He got a bit sick after that last race, but he looks like he’s right again now and he’ll be better next week,” Butt said.