Presenter-driver-trainer Brittany Graham knows a thing or two about racing on both sides of the Tasman and now that the Queenslander is working for Trackside in this country she’s (reluctantly) agreed to write a weekly column.
By Brittany Graham
Successful in the DG Jones Memorial back in 2023, Oscar Bonavena is back for more as a rising ten-year-old and off the back of a stunningly dominant Ordeal Cup success two weeks ago.
Displaying his very best manners, the trademark turn of foot at the top of the straight left his rivals breathless and signalled he is on song for the back end of the year despite a challenging Inter Dominion campaign.
“It was a real juggling act with him through the Inter Dominion series, and he really felt the Albion Park track,” said co-trainer Nathan Purdon when appearing on The Box Seat earlier this week.
“Now though he is probably the soundest he has ever been in his life”.
They are ominous words for his rivals at Motukarara this Sunday with the grass tracks clearly his forte, and his record of four wins from five starts on the surface only further enhancing his chances.
What does pose a challenge, however, is the back mark of 30 metres in a gigantic full field of 18 runners. When successful in 2023 he overcame the same handicap, although only had a field of 10 to contend with. With the addition of another eight horses, it could see the millionaire trotter spotting rivals a far greater start.
Should he prove successful in Sunday’s G3 feature, he will in fact edge up and over $1.25 million in earnings in less than 100 career starts. Not bad for an orphan foal who has met and overcome challenges from day one.
In a further bonus for racing fans on course at Motukarara on Sunday, his star pacing stablemate Akuta is penciled in to head along and have a private workout on the grass to ready him for a tilt at the Methven Cup on Sunday, October 5.
To see the market for Sunday’s race click here