Horse racing: Oscar Bonavena and Muscle Mountain to continue long-running rivalry

Muscle Mountain. Photo / Trish Dunell

One of New Zealand’s great staying trots could turn into a 200m drag race at Alexandra Park tonight.

And even if it does, which of the two favourites will win is hard to predict.

Oscar Bonavena and Muscle Mountain continue their long-running rivalry in the $100,000 Peter Breckon Memorial National Trot over the 2700 mobile – finally, a Group 1 where the pair can get away from all-conquering Aussie champion Just Believe.

Both are wonderfully talented trotters who have had a rollercoaster year, with their ageing bodies meaning while the heart may be willing, the legs don’t quite pump as fast.

In the last two months there have been glimpses of their best, particularly from Oscar Bonavena, who even beat Just Believe in the NZ Trotting Free-For-All at Addington.

Muscle Mountain was also back in the winners’ circle at Invercargill last start, and their gate speed coupled with respect earned makes it seem certain they will be the first two off the gate tonight, with Muscle Mountain likely to lead and Oscar Bonevena trail.

In a race with no rivals good enough to pressure them, the Group 1 event could be decided by whether Oscar can outspring the Mountain up the Alexandra Park passing lane.

“It looks a bit that way,” admits Muscle Mountain’s driver Ben Hope.

“We will be going forward and trying to lead, and while Oscar has had the better of us lately, I really liked the feel [I] got from him [Muscle Mountain] last week.

“He flew up to Auckland last week and Dad said he worked well yesterday, so he will get his chance.”

If Muscle Mountain gets a relaxed run in front and is in full flight when the pair hit the passing lane, it will take some serious sprinting from Oscar Bonavena to get past him.

But serious sprinting is Oscar’s speciality when he is at his best and the punters have already spoken, backing him in $1.65 while Muscle Mountain is out to $2.

Regardless of who wins, amilestone looks near-certain, as Oscar Bonavena needs to only earn $12,442 (a top-two finish) to become New Zealand trotting’s latest millionaire.

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.