Mark was making no excuses for the defeats of OSCAR BONAVENA and DON’T STOP DREAMING on Hunter Cup night but wishes he had had a week up his sleeve leading into the night.
“The horses went with Brooke and when I got over there and realised just how well they had done I knew we were going to be up against it. You don’t go into those sort of races over there a bit pretty and expect to win. We had planned races for them a week before at Cambridge but they didn’t get off the ground. I thought a good workout early in the week would make up for it but when I saw them I knew it probably wouldn’t be enough”
Oscar Bonavena went a bold race in the Great Southern Star heat aiming to make the final 10 running on well on a record setting 1.51 mile rate.
“That probably took the edge off him. They didn’t go quite as hard in the final.He came through it well and will run at Cranbourne on Saturday night”
Mark was very pleased with Don’t Stop Dreaming considering his draw and the frantic pace.
“He felt really good in the run home and I think would have been fourth in another few strides”
However Mark was still undecided Tuesday about whether he would return for the Cranbourne Cup because of his commitments at home in Matamata and the gate which has Leap To Fame in the ace space.
“We had Greg (Sugars) lined up but he now has commitments in Sydney he can’t pass up so we will see who is available before we make a final decision”