DG Jones Memorial to Oscar

The remarkable legs of aged trotter Oscar Bonavena (Majestic Son) just keep giving and today on the Motukarara harness racing grass track he chalked up his eighteenth win in the G3 DG Jones/Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup.

Starting off the back mark of thirty metres the seven year old stallion which is trained by Mark and Nathan Purdon eventually navigated his way onto the back of Andy Hall (Andover Hall) who sat parked outside leader Mystic Max (Village Mystic) for most of the trip.

“He was really relaxed, loving his work and it was perfect to get into the one one so early,” driver Olivia Thornley said.

Just before straightening for the run in, Thornley peeled Oscar Bonavena off the back of a battling Andy Hall and he came down the middle of the track to win by three quarters of a length from Resolve (Andover Hall) who lost ground early and made a late spirited run to grab second.

“He loves any surface or any distance. He’s very very fast. He’s got the speed of a pacer when he comes off a wheel when saved for one run. Fifty metres off the post he was getting tired but with Paul Nairn’s one (Resolve) coming up the inside my horse never laid down.”

Oscar Bonavena and Olivia Thornley coming down the outside (Race Images – Photo)

The win was Thornley’s fiftieth, and she is the fourth female driver to win the race in its fifty eight year history.

“It was great to get the win (50^th) in a race that’s held in high regard and being behind Oscar made it  a big thrill.”

OSCAR BONAVENA REPLAY

Thornley has driven Oscar Bonavena five times for three wins, a second and a third.

Owned by Mark Purdon and American horseman Chris Ryder, today’s win took Oscar Bonavena’s earnings to over $400,000. He began his career with Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson and won his first race as a two year old for his stable in Rangiora in April 2018.

“He’s been a grand old warhorse, and you can’t fault his career to date. He’s always had a few niggles here and there but he’s never shown it.”

He’s now won three Group Three races, a Group Two and Group One. He’s the only horse since Lyell Creek in 2000, to win off a 30 metre or longer handicap.

“Coming off the back of just two trials it was always going to be tough off thirty but being in the one one helped.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink