Oscar going for three

In tomorrow night’s $40,000 G3 Dancinginthedark M (USA) Canterbury Park Trotting Cup, Oscar Bonavena (Majestic Son) could become the first harness racing horse to win the race three times.

Trained by Mark and Nathan Purdon, the eight year old entire resumed at Addington last week where he got back and trotted home nicely for fifth, 3.6 lengths from the winner Mighty Logan.

“He’s certainly come on a bit and is a lot better horse than he was the other night. I think he’s one more run away from being where he needs to be. He’s more of a chance this week than last week,” Nathan said.

Greg and Nina Hope have a three prong attack on the race led by the classy Muscle Mountain (Muscle Hill).

The giant trotter last raced in Auckland in May and in preparation for the big trot he’s had one winning trial sixteen days ago at Rangiora.

“We’re really happy with him. He’s always gone well fresh up but being a bit older he’s taken a bit longer to come to hand and he’ll benefit a lot from the run,” Greg said.

Muscle Mountain will start off the 20 metre handicap with Oscar Bonavena.

“Being a big field, the handicap won’t make it easy. We’re giving Bet N Win 10 metres so it’s going to be all about how we begin. It’s not going to be that easy to be fair. We don’t give Ben any instructions. He just drives him the way the horse is feeling. Ben will be conscious of where the horse is at in his training.”

Stablemate Midnight Dash (Muscle Hill) was also last seen in May and he too has had one trial, finishing third behind Muscle Mountain.

“He’s come on leaps and bounds from the run.”

Hope says the seven year old is a definite chance in Friday night’s trotting feature.

“Definitely. He’s run the times and is up to that calibre of horse.”

He currently sits in tenth place in the Dominion Handicap rankings.

Mr Love (Love You) is the third Hope runner. He has a good level of fitness having raced consistently through the winter.

“He’s a high speed horse. Oscar (Oscar Bonavena) sat on his back the other night and he couldn’t beat him for speed. If he’s somewhere near them he has to be a royal chance.”

Tomorrow night will be a good test for the David and Stacey White trained Bet N Win (What The Hill) who’s a relative newcomer to this grade.

After impressively winning his Australian debut, his campaign across the Tasman had to be abandoned after he had foot issues. The four year old has had two trials to fit him for this race, the last being against the pacers when he was just beaten by Don’t Stop Dreaming.

“We’re really happy with him, his trial was good and he’s really come on since then. We’ve been targeting certain races and we’ve got it worked out how to have him race fresh up. I think he’s in a good spot. He’s improved with the break and he’s definitely a better horse this time in,” David said.

He admits though that racing against the likes of Muscle Mountain and Oscar Bonavena is a step up.

“It’s a massive step up for him. This will be the first time he’s raced these genuine open class horses. We’ve had fifteen starts and won about $120,000. Those two behind us have won between them $1.7 million. As confident as we are, we have to be a little bit realistic at the same time. Most of the front markers have had a run or two so we’re probably giving away a little bit of fitness as well.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink