Oscar Bonavena has done what many thought was impossible – and that’s beat Just Believe – at Addington this afternoon.
The Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained star was helped by a perfect Blair Orange drive as Oscar Bonavena had his third win in the Group 1 Livamol New Zealand Trotting Free For All.
The eight-year-old slotted into the one-one with Just Believe sitting parked outside the pace-making Muscle Mountain.
In the end Just Believe, known as “Harry”, just couldn’t finish it off as Oscar Bonavena reeled him in to secure his 27th win.
Following his win in the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on Tuesday Just Believe was a $1.18 favourite to extend his unbeaten run on this side of the Tasman.
“He’s a great old campaigner,” Orange said post race of Oscar Bonavena, “and when you give him a sit like that he can be very good.”
Oscar Bonavena’s previous wins in the Group 1 were in 2023 and 2021.
Just Believe held on for second, ahead of outsiders Midnight Dash and Arcee Phoenix.
It was the second Group 1 of the day, after the favourite Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained Meant To Be won the IRT Sires’ Stakes 2YO Trotting Championship, edging out a game Tarrangindi and the previously unbeaten Habibti Pat.