Oscar’s stunning win at the Mot

On a day when the racing pattern indicated you just couldn’t come from the back and win, champion trotter Oscar Bonavena (Majestic Son) kicked the theory to the back of the harness racing parade ring and put in a stunning performance to win the $40,000 Group Three Elite Stride DG Jones Memorial Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup at Motukarara today.

In a typical no panic Mark Purdon drive, Oscar Bonavena (30 metres) was well off the pace set by I Dream Of Jeannie and turning in, he was off the track and having to make up multiple lengths.

The crowd certainly knew they were watching something special unfold and the ovation started well before Oscar Bonavena hit the finishing line. And befitting his great run, it continued as the nine year old returned to the birdcage.

OSCAR BONAVENA REPLAY

“That made it special too,” said Mark Purdon who trains the entire with his son Nathan. “He felt super and he’s really in the zone. It was always going to be tough. You’d hope  the three wide line would start from a 1000 from home. And that the field would pack up a little bit and that he was within striking distance. But it didn’t work out that way. He was still a long way off them at the 600.”

Commentator Matt Cross was moved to call it a ‘monstrous win’ and it certainly was that.

In a rare sign of emotion and appreciation of this horse’s immense talent, Purdon raised the whip ever so slightly to honour a champion effort.

“That was acknowledging the people who were in awe of him.”

At the end of the 2810 metre journey Oscar Bonavena was eight and a half lengths in front of Paris Prince, running out the race in 3-39.4.

“It really made you tingle.”

Today’s win was not the entire’s biggest winning margin. That came on the grass at Methven when he won the 2023 Green Mile by ten lengths.

It’s a replay you’d want to watch a few times, especially if you were on course but unable to see from how far back Oscar came.

Todays was his thirty sixth win, headed by four Group Ones, three Group Two and eight Group Three features.

In the 60 year history of the race, Oscar Bonavena has become the seventh horse to win the trotting feature twice. Other dual winners were Mataderos (2021-2022), Springbank Richard (2009-2010), Call You Later (2002-2003), Lyell Creek (1999-2000), Game Command (1984-1986) and About Now (1979 -1981).

Purdon purchased Oscar Bonavena as a one win two year old from Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson. At that time American trainer Chris Ryder and Mark’s late father Roy became joint owners.

“Chris was in the market looking for a nice horse and Phil had a high opinion of him. I didn’t take that lightly because he’s (Williamson) had a lot of good trotters. I did trial him and he did a couple of things wrong, but he felt like a lovely horse.”

Purdon says his late father would have been proud of the horse’s win today.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink