Oscar rewrites record book with 3rd NZ Trotting FFA

A couple of months ago at a Canterbury breeding seminar at Addington Raceway, champion harness racing trainer Mark Purdon confidently told an audience of eager listeners he genuinely believed that his multiple G1 winner Oscar Bonavena (Majestic Son) could mix stallion duties with racing in the spring.

This afternoon at the same venue, the super son of Majestic Son, vindicated his co trainer and owners sentiments with a stunning win in the G1 $100,000 New Zealand Trotting Free For All.

In doing so, he ended the 10 race winning streak of the champion Australian visitor, Just Believe (Orlando Vici), and became the first horse in the 79 year history of the G1 feature to win the race three times.

With Muscle Mountain showing his customary gate speed to lead easily from barrier five, Greg Sugars and Just Believe were forced to sit parked throughout the running of the 1980m sprint.

With Purdon sacking himself and electing to sit in the stand in favour of the countries leading reinsman, Blair Orange, ‘the postman’ was able to secure a beautiful trip in transit on the back of the Aussie champ.

It was a recipe tailor made for ‘Oscar’ as Ben Hope set about making every post a winner with his best mate ‘Dobby’, the pace was on and playing right into the hands of the Purdon trained trotter.

Orange waited until the Addington straight to set Oscar Bonavena alight, and with Just Believe having mastered Muscle Mountain halfway down the straight, Sugars attention turned the trotter who was on his back, almost expecting the inevitable burst that was to come.

“It just scripted out beautifully being able to slot on the back of Just Believe when Maui dropped in three the fence. From there with Ben (Hope) was pretty happy to park the other fella (Just Believe), he definitely had his chance, he’s very fast and just a great old campaigner,” said Orange.

“He has a couple of wee quirks and can get a bit keen in his running, but for a stallion, he is a pretty cool bloke.

“They are super trainers the pair of them and I’m just lucky enough to be in this situation with Mark taking a step back from the driving,” he said.

Oscar Bonavena won with a length to spare at the finish, with Just Believe showing his champion qualities and fighting all the way to the finish.

“He is very fast as a trotter and when he can get a sit like that he can sprint really good. To Just believe’s credit he fought very hard and it’s just a thrill to win this for Mark and Nath, he’s just a cool old horse this fella,” said Orange.

Purdon was clearly delighted with the result and as animated as you are ever likely to see in a post race interview having worked the oracle in getting his former age group star back to his best.

“It’s an honour to work with a horse like this, he’s just such a beautiful horse. His issues seem to be behind him now, we haven’t encountered some of those issues we have in the past and he seems to be a good sound horse and he has come up really well this year and even though he is eight now seems to be a little bit stronger,” said Purdon.

“He just got the perfect run, Blair drove him terrific and he was following the right horse and of course it all worked out great. He just needs that little bit of luck in the running and he got it tonight and proved just how good he can be.

“He was following a champion in my opinion and they are always hard to beat, so you never know until they get to the winning post, but tonight he was too good,” he said.

The win was the 27th in the storied career of Oscar Bonavena and his 4th at Group One level taking his earnings to $950,000 and within striking distance of becoming the 10th Australasian bred millionaire trotter in history.

At this point of the breeding season, one would think Mark Purdon might expect a few more calls from breeders looking for a fresh semen option with all the hallmarks of a champion trotter and sire of the future.

The winning time was was 2:24.9 with the last mile run in 1:57.7, the last half in 57.8 and the last quarter in 28.9.

OSCAR BONAVENA REPLAY

Midnight Dash (Muscle Hill) went a slasher of to secure the fifth G1 placing of his career, while Arcee Phoenix flew late also to just miss filling a place bearing dividend.

Muscle Mountain was fair in finishing fifth in his first race for a month and just his second since the Rowe Cup in May. One wonders whether the big son of Muscle Hill will recapture his best form which 12 months ago would have seen him finishing a lot closer to the winner then he did.

All honours however lay with the first three time champion of the NZ Trotting FFA and the team of Mark and Nathan Purdon who once again brought the Canterbury crowd to their feet.

For complete Addington Show Day results, click here.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink