Stars looking to shine Across the Ditch
Across the Ditch • June 13th, 2025 10:29 AM • 5 min read
Harness Racing - Adam Hamilton
Team Purdon launches its assault on the Queensland winter riches at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Leading the way is their star veteran trotter Oscar Bonavena, who is one of the key chances in the upcoming Inter Dominion trotting series, starting on July 5.
The nine-year-old looked sharp beating some handy pacers in a recent Albion Park trial and kicks off his Albion Park campaign from gate 11 in the Tony Veivers Memorial Trot (2138m).
His major danger will be gifted but enigmatic local Gus, who returned to winning form last Saturday night.
Nathan Purdon, who arrived in Brisbane on Tuesday to supervise training, said Oscar Bonavena was in a “really good place” going into this weekend.
“He’ll definitely improve on what he does, but we’re really happy where he is in himself,” he said.
“He showed he’s still go all his speed in the trial and starting off the back row this week isn’t a bad thing because we want to let him relax in first few races.”
Stablemate Rubira, who is aiming at the Gr.1 Queensland Derby, faces a big early test against Queensland’s best three-year-old, Fate Awaits, in the Burwood Stud 3YO (race nine).
Rubira, who will also be driven by Sanderson, has a big advantage from gate two, while Fate Awaits will start from barrier six.
“He’s a horse who really went to another level with his time in Auckland and we think he’s ready to go on with it,” Purdon said.
“He hit the line well (when third) behind a couple of nice horses in his Albion Park trial last week and will definitely need this run. I’d say he’s about 90 per cent going into this.”
Kiwi interest will also be strong around star three-year-old filly Captains Mistress, who will have her first run for the premier Grant Dixon stable on Saturday night.
Captains Mistress will need to be at the top of her game from outside the back row (gate 10) against older mares.
The Albion Park meeting will also see the running of the Queensland Sun, where the winner will get a golden ticket into the Gr.1 Rising Sun on July 12.
Major chances include: Path To Greatness (gate one), Fact Finder (four), Air Express (six), Charge Ahead (eight) and Birkirkara (11).
Away from Albion Park, reigning Inter Dominion champion Don Hugo will continue his build-up towards a title defence next month when he steps out at Menangle.
Don Hugo looked sharp winning first-up last week and this will be his last run before the first round of Inter Dominion heats on July 5.
Greyhound Racing - Jared Timms
Semifinals for the AU$40,000 Thunderbolt on Saturday night headline another big week of greyhound racing in Australia.
High quality heats have been contested around New South Wales throughout the last month and talented sprinter Flash Jet has stamped himself as the early favourite.
Flash Jet proved far too good for his rivals in last week’s Richmond Heat, pinging the lids on before leading all the way on route to a blistering 17.86 victory.
Trainer Johnny Grief is understandably thrilled with his kennel star’s condition ahead of Saturday night’s semis in Grafton.
“He’s a good pup. He’s broken 18 second at Richmond 9 times now and he’s only had 20 starts for 15 wins and 4 placings, so he’s consistent as well,” Grief told GRNSW.
“He was nominated for the Grafton heats, but he’s come out of those … I’m happy that he’s safely through.
“I know there’s a lot of good dogs still left in the series, but I don’t think any of them have track records.”
Despite qualifying in the west of Sydney, Grief believes that the entire Thunderbolt series should be contested solely at Grafton in country NSW from 2026 and beyond.
“I love the Thunderbolt, I think it’s terrific, but I think the whole series should be at Grafton,” he said.
“Put on eight heats up there, followed by the semis and the final. I don’t think we have the number of dogs to run the regional qualifiers anymore and that’s shown across other races like the Country Classic as well.”
Four Thunderbolt Semifinals will be contested at Grafton on Saturday night, with Saturday week’s program to be headlined by the lucrative Final.
Thoroughbred Racing - Nick Quinn
After some sharp work on Tuesday morning and drawing a relatively good gate (13) at that night’s barrier draw for the time-honored race, co-trainer Ben Hayes is confident War Machine can finally help the stable claim a Queensland Group 1 race.
“I’m very happy with War Machine,” Hayes said.
“He worked over six furlongs earlier in the week around 24 or 25 seconds doing it nicely on the bridle and could've gone quicker.
“He had a very good look around and was exactly what we wanted, so, I’m very happy with him.”
War Machine has won both career starts since moving to the stable.
One punter is keen on War Machine with a bet of $5000 at $3.10.
The Stradbroke has provided many highlights, some of my favourite’s include Alligator Blood in 2022.
He had not won a race since his famous 2020 Australian Guineas triumph and was now in the hands of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
It was an incredible performance by the stable and medical staff to get him back on the winners list, and a popular win with the local punters trackside.
Another example was Black Piranha 2010
He won the race in 2009 as a $4 favourite defeating classy gallopers Danleigh and Ortensia, but his win 12 months later in 2010 was truly extraordinary.
He had not won race in between and started a $21 chance and sailed down the outside to salute in a photo finish.
And lastly, Linton in 2013.
The popular greybeard produced a breathtaking rail hugging run to nab local hero Buffering in the shadows of the post.
It also cost larrikin trainer John Sadler a lifetime of beer to racing journalist Matt Stewart who was tipping Linton to win on radio, Sadler said he had never been so happy to pay out on losing a bet.
I am sure the fact Linton was backed from $51 into $26 helped pay for some of those refreshments
