Just when Mark had absorbed the disappointment and frustration all trainers understand at Albion Park on Saturday,came another blow to Oscar Bonavena’s chances of making the Inter Dominion Trotting Final this weekend.
Oscar,needing to run top three to make the final, has drawn the ace, a gate Mark usually wants to avoid.
“Not ideal.But it’s what we have so that’s it” Mark said on Sunday.
But, even though based in Brisbane this week, he is not considering lining up to replace Adam Sanderson in the cart behind his old favourite in Saturday’s crucial heat.
Top driver Adam typically put his hand up after the heat in which Oscar finished seventh for not making his run earlier in the back straight when others moved -leaving him with no chance after being held up again in the straight.He went to the post full of running.
“It’s not the way I like to do things and Nathan and I have full confidence in Adam’s driving. It just didn’t work out on the night.”
If Oscar has had a chink in his armour it is how he can trot roughly for a few strides early if bustled out of the gate.That will be the main stable concern next week.
“It was disappointing because he was just thriving through the week and in great order” Mark said.
Oscar is certainly capable of at least finishing top three against Saturday’s field given any luck in the running. London To a Brick, a $2 shot on Saturday whose early break hampered Oscar who was not far behind him; and upset heat winner,Golden Sunset ,who led throughout, both take on star Kiwi Bet N Win who has drawn ideally in gate three in the other heat. Oscar gains Arctic Phoenix, second favourite to Bet N Win in the first round of heats and a good third covering extra ground, who has drawn the second row. He won the TAB Mile in Cambridge earlier this year.
Both heats were run in similar times and splits.
Adam was just a victim of circumstances in the $A300,000 Rising Sun where Rubira had to settle for seventh in what was an unusual tempo for an Australian pacing feature.He had been handy early but lost a few places from drifting rivals to be a little worse than midfield on the outer when the fireworks began.
“Most unusually for a major race over here it was virtually a sprint home” Mark noted
“They broke 28 down the back and then ran home in 26.6. Anything further back had no chance. You usually expect the big races here to be run at a strong tempo all the way”
The winner, Fate Awaits,like Rubira a son of Always B Miki,is the first three year old to win the feature against the four year olds. He had been well held by Rubira the previous week in the Redcliffe Derby when trailing, but capitalised on a similar trip on Saturday to match the blazing last 400 best. Rubira pulled up strongly and will tackle his main aim on the trip, the Queensland Derby, on Saturday week.