His Inter Dominion Trotting Grand Final seemed a lost cause after a disastrous start and needing a top three finish to qualify -but as so often has happened, Oscar Bonavena found a way.
Though earning just $500 in his do or die final heat the indomitable Oscar pulled out a vintage 1.52 last mile mile which launched him into the rich final on extra points allotted for best sectional times in the heats. The bonus,once common in the standing start heat era,and recently restored was perfect timing for “I Hate The Ace” Oscar.
So what might be rated the bad news -that he was banned from the barrier draw from mobile starts by the stewards-is not the major worry for Nathan leading into the final next Saturday.
“It should be a help in some ways. He will have more time to settle into a rhythm and he can take it from there.” Nathan said on Sunday.
“He ran his last mile in what I think was actually quicker time than one of the pacing heats.”
The untimely break did not come as a surprise to he or Mark for the $2.70 favourite as they watched the scoreup.
“He usually at least moves out with the field but on Saturday he hung back and we were pretty sure then he was going to have a gallop. It just seems to be from that inside gate.What he did after shows just how well he has done over here.”
The Australians have not yet seen the best of Oscar Bonavena, though Saturday’s sectionals was a reminder of just how magnificently he covers ground in full flight. There is still the chance they will do so in the Final.
Nathan’s other challenge this week is preparing Rubira for the Queensland Derby on Saturday and all is going well in that regard.
“He will have a good workout tomorrow (Monday). We have kept serving the work up to him but he is just doing so well he is thriving on it.”