Champion four-year-old pacer Bonavista Bay is representing Victoria in the Taylor Mile on Friday night
In his short but brilliant career to date Bonavista Bay has become as enigmatic as he is enthralling.
A leviathan in both physique and ability, the son of Rustler Hanover was a champion at three and is already a multiple Group 1 winner at four.
But following an indifferent, if hugely profitable West Coast sortie last summer, doubts linger approaching his first overseas assignment, the $100,000 Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park.
For top Victorian reinsman Chris Alford, who has partnered the untapped giant in more than half of his wins to date and will again be on board in the shaky isles however, those doubts are soon to be consigned to history.
“It’s always hard to go over there (New Zealand) and beat them, but this is a very good horse and with even luck he’ll be very hard to beat,” the driver said.
“Put it this way, if nothing goes wrong I’d expect him to win and if he didn’t run in the top three I’d be really disappointed.”
Among Bonavista Bay’s rivals on Friday night will be his Breeders Crown conqueror from last season in Tintin in America along with fellow Aussie raider Captain Joy.
But Alford is predictably wary about the depth of quality four-year-olds across the ditch, and whilst he acknowledges there are a few key threats in the event, he knows better than to take any competitor lightly.
“Tintin in America has already beaten him and he’s going well at the moment, along with Sleepy Tripp who knocked off the older horses not long back,” the champion reinsman said.
“But realistically there’s probably eight or nine in the race that can win with the right luck.”
One of the great positives for trainer Mark Reed’s charge approaching his rite of passage assignment is his kind draw in three.
But Alford will not be leading at all costs, confident his superstar conveyance only needs a trouble free run to join Divisive as the only mainland winners of the four-year-old classic.
“He’s getting better (out of the gate) all the time, but you wouldn’t say he’s an explosive horse,” he said.
“So we may not necessarily lead, but we’ll be looking to take up a forward position, and from there, again, without bad luck, he’s the one I’d want to be on.”
