Latest news with #OscarBonavena
NZ Herald
07-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Mark Purdon keeps his word even after driver's Inter Dominion stuff-up
Champion trainer Mark Purdon's word is more important to him than winning another Inter Dominion. So he will resist any temptation to jump in the sulky behind Oscar Bonavena to try to put his campaign back on track at Albion Park in Brisbane this Saturday night. Purdon and son Nathan
The Australian
22-06-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Kiwi trotters back in force for 2025 Inter Dominion
Young Kiwi trotting star Bet N Win is leading the charge to wind back the clock. For a long time the Kiwis 'owned' the Inter Dominion trotting series, winning 18 of the 23 finals from Yankee Loch in 1989 to I Can Doosit in 2012. Champions like Lyell Creek (2000), Pride Of Petite (1996 & '97), Take A Moment (2001 & '03) and I Can Doosit (2011 & '11) led the New Zealand dominance. But the ride has turned in recent years with Aussies winning five of the past six finals. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! It's been due to pandemic and a date change causing less Kiwi interest in the great race, but also by the dominance of Australia's champion Just Believe, who won the crown in 2022 and 2023. But the Kiwis are back in force for this revamped and enriched Brisbane series, which starts on Saturday week and culminates with a $500,000 final at Albion Park on July 19. While there are only two Kiwis in the trotting series, they are two of the biggest players in Bet N Win and Oscar Bonavena. And both have already snared wins in Australia in the build-up. Oscar Bonavena won brilliantly at Albion Park last Saturday week, then ran some sparkling closing times to finish a close second at the same track last night. Bet N Win, who only arrived in Australia last Tuesday, opened his campaign when he hardly raised to a sweat to cruise to victory at Menangle last night. They are trying to become the first Kiwi to win the Inter Dominion trotting crown since Winterfell did with the home ground advantage in the 2019 Auckland series. The last Kiwi to win the final in Australia was I Can Doosit at the now defunct Moonee Valley track way back in 2012. Bet N Win and Oscar Bonavena make for a fascinating contrast, but little separates their chances in Brisbane. Bet N Win in the young buck, a five-year-old who has raced just 23 times for 13 wins. Oscar Bonavena is most likely in his last year of racing as a nine-year-old, who boasts 34 wins and almost $1.15 million in earnings. They are the new and the old of NZ trotting. The latest markets have Oscar Bonavena rated slightly higher at $3.50 and Bet N Win at $4.50 to win the final. Both of them will have turn the tables on Australia's new trotting star Arcee Phoenix, who beat the pair on their patch in the $NZ500,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge on April 4. Arcee Phoenix has long looked the next big thing in Aussie trotting and he's delivering on that this year. Chris Svanosio's six-year-old followed a sparkling Melton trial win with an arrogant first-up win at the same track last night. There was a touch of Just Believe about the way he made a midrace move to sit outside the leader and toyed with his rivals last night. His odds were slashed from $3.50 to $2.80 for the trotting finals straight after it. • Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
News.com.au
22-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Kiwi trotters back in force for 2025 Inter Dominion harness racing series
Young Kiwi trotting star Bet N Win is leading the charge to wind back the clock. For a long time the Kiwis 'owned' the Inter Dominion trotting series, winning 18 of the 23 finals from Yankee Loch in 1989 to I Can Doosit in 2012. Champions like Lyell Creek (2000), Pride Of Petite (1996 & '97), Take A Moment (2001 & '03) and I Can Doosit (2011 & '11) led the New Zealand dominance. But the ride has turned in recent years with Aussies winning five of the past six finals. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! It's been due to pandemic and a date change causing less Kiwi interest in the great race, but also by the dominance of Australia's champion Just Believe, who won the crown in 2022 and 2023. But the Kiwis are back in force for this revamped and enriched Brisbane series, which starts on Saturday week and culminates with a $500,000 final at Albion Park on July 19. While there are only two Kiwis in the trotting series, they are two of the biggest players in Bet N Win and Oscar Bonavena. And both have already snared wins in Australia in the build-up. Oscar Bonavena won brilliantly at Albion Park last Saturday week, then ran some sparkling closing times to finish a close second at the same track last night. Bet N Win, who only arrived in Australia last Tuesday, opened his campaign when he hardly raised to a sweat to cruise to victory at Menangle last night. Bet N Win NZ dominates the Ainsworth - Trotters Mobile.ðŸ'¥ðŸ¥‡ The New Zealand visitor trained by David and Stacey White and driven by Bob Butt trotted to victory by 5.9 metres in a mile rate of 1.58.6 over the 2300 metres. Congratulations.ðŸ'� — Club Menangle (@ClubMenangle) June 21, 2025 They are trying to become the first Kiwi to win the Inter Dominion trotting crown since Winterfell did with the home ground advantage in the 2019 Auckland series. The last Kiwi to win the final in Australia was I Can Doosit at the now defunct Moonee Valley track way back in 2012. Bet N Win and Oscar Bonavena make for a fascinating contrast, but little separates their chances in Brisbane. Bet N Win in the young buck, a five-year-old who has raced just 23 times for 13 wins. Oscar Bonavena is most likely in his last year of racing as a nine-year-old, who boasts 34 wins and almost $1.15 million in earnings. They are the new and the old of NZ trotting. The latest markets have Oscar Bonavena rated slightly higher at $3.50 and Bet N Win at $4.50 to win the final. Both of them will have turn the tables on Australia's new trotting star Arcee Phoenix, who beat the pair on their patch in the $NZ500,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge on April 4. Arcee Phoenix is back! Arcee Phoenix is back in action winning the Yabby Dam Farms Trotters Free for All with ease for trainer-driver Chris Svanosio. — The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) June 21, 2025 Arcee Phoenix has long looked the next big thing in Aussie trotting and he's delivering on that this year. Chris Svanosio's six-year-old followed a sparkling Melton trial win with an arrogant first-up win at the same track last night. There was a touch of Just Believe about the way he made a midrace move to sit outside the leader and toyed with his rivals last night. His odds were slashed from $3.50 to $2.80 for the trotting finals straight after it.
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Chase A Dream won't be chasing the Inter Dominions
Chase A Dream's best form has been elusive this year. Photo / Race Images Chase A Dream's Queensland campaign and any hope of a stud career are both over before they began. The exceptional but erratic 4-year-old was pulled out of the Rising Sun at Albion Park in July 5 on Wednesday morning by co-owner and trainer Mark Purdon, following a so-so second to stablemate Rubira at a Pukekohe trial on Tuesday. That means he won't board a plane to Sydney on Sunday with Rubira and Oscar Bonavena, instead staying home and heading to the spelling paddock. But before then, he will be gelded as Purdon seeks more consistency from the Group 1 winner in the second half of the season. 'We think that is the best thing for him,' says Purdon. 'He will be gelded, have a break and hopefully come back better and more consistent in the second half of the season. 'We are disappointed to not be going and really appreciated the invite to the Rising Sun but it just hasn't worked out for him.' Purdon confirmed both Rubura (Derbys) and Oscar Bonavena (Inter Dominion Trotting Champs) will still make the trip. With Chase A Dream out of the series and Republican Party almost certain to follow there will be few, if any, realistic New Zealand chances of making the pacing final on July 19 but Oscar Bonavena and Bet N Win give New Zealand two top chances in the Trotting series. Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald's Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world's biggest horse racing carnivals.
NZ Herald
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Naughty Oscar expected to be on best behaviour on Anzac Day at Alexandra Park
Oscar Bonavena finds himself in the unusual position of blowing the start from behind a mobile plenty of times in the last year, but actually being better behaved from a standing start. His biggest gaffe came in the $600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge last start when he exploded into a full gallop at the start, extinguishing his own chances, and he was lucky not to take out eventual winner Arcee Phoenix. Purdon says the veteran trotter has been on his best behaviour in his work since and Purdon's only option is to turn the page. 'He has been really good in his work, and we all know he has been a bit funny in mobile races, but I don't think he will have any issues from a stand,' says Purdon. 'I'd love to see him step well because the horse on the front line will run along with it being only 2200m, and for the horses on the handicaps, the closer they can settle the better. 'So it could be a race where one of the big names that can step best might end up the best winning chance.' With Bet N Win, Muscle Mountain, Not As Promised and Queen Elida also back on that 10m mark Oscar Bonavena will have plenty of high-class rivals in the same boat as him. Blair Orange will partner Oscar Bonavena as Purdon is suspended and he also drives Chase A Dream in the $100,000 Dawson Harford Messenger for the elite pacers. Chase A Dream's season and maybe career looked to be in the balance after a couple of dreadful runs to start this season, but he bounced back with a huge win in the Flying Mile at Cambridge and a brave second to Leap To Fame in the $1 million Race by Betcha. With no Merlin in Friday's 2700m mobile Chase A Dream is the $2.60 favourite after drawing barrier 6, with Auckland Cup winner Republican Party the big winner in the draw, securing the ace. 'I am rapt with how he is working and I am really glad I let him miss the Taylor Mile [two weeks ago],' says Purdon. 'I think he will be hard to beat and I wouldn't be scared to see Blair use him off the gate as he will be good in front.' Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald's racing editor in 1995 and covers the world's biggest horse racing carnivals.
