Eye Of The Tiger: Avonnova outstays Hughie Green last night (Saturday) at Albion Park Photo by Dan Costello
He’s back!
Triple Queensland Horse of the Year Avonnova made a victorious comeback winning the BOTRA Charity Race Day May 14 Open Pace at Albion Park last night (Saturday).
Having his first start following his retirement last December, the popular pacer downed rising star Hughie Green and Mach Alert in a time of 1:52.9.
The 1660m was covered in splits of 27.8, 29.4, 27.8 and 27.9 seconds.
Starting from the outside gate, Avonnova drifted to the tail initially before working around the field three wide to park outside Hughie Green at the 1100m mark.
The pair staged a titanic struggle over the concluding stages before Avonnova gained the upper hand to win by a half head margin.
Amazingly, the free legged pacer was sent off as a $12 chance.
Winning trainer Ian Gurney was left gob smacked by his star pacer.
“I can’t believe it, he had no right to do what he did but it just proves how much he loves racing and how big his ticker is,” Gurney stated. “At the turn when he was still right there with Hughie I knew he would be in for the fight, he just loves that type of situation.
“I was happy with his preparation but these types of races are so hard at the best of times let alone coming off a big break like he was.
“It’s probably the biggest break from racing since I’ve had him and his lead-up work was really good but I was definitely thinking this was a starting point for him with a view to the winter carnival in July as the main focus.”
Winning driver Shane Graham was also thrilled.
“That was pure heart, he felt like the old Nova in his preliminary but to win in that manner and under those conditions is quite unbelievable.” Graham said.
“At the top of the straight I knew he would be hard to stop, once he was that close to Hughie Green he was always going to make a race of it. He’s just a marvel.” He added.
The Albion Park features include the Gr.2 $50,000 Sunshine Sprint on July 8 followed by the Gr.1 $200,000 Blacks A Fake a week later.
Avonnova won the Sunshine Sprint back in 2015.
