A change of scenery can be a tonic for an older gelding, and trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are banking on that formula to spark He’s Our Bonneval back to winning form.
The rising seven-year-old has been racing consistently but hasn’t got his head in front since scoring at his Australian debut at Caulfield 12 months ago.
Following his grinding fourth behind Dance To Dubai at Flemington last Saturday, Bussuttin and Young have listened to the advice of top jockey Damien Oliver and put He’s Our Bonneval on a float to Sydney.
They have also delved into their bag of tricks and tinkered with his gear.
“‘Ollie’ was under the assumption that he just didn’t quite try too hard on Saturday,” Young said.
“He said maybe a trip to Sydney might just bring him on.
“We took the blinkers off him last Saturday so he would settle up the straight, and we’ve put the visors back on.”
He’s Our Bonneval will line up in the Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1300m) and while frustrated the gelding hasn’t yet been able to break through for his second Australian win, Young remains optimistic he can turn it around.
The horse was beaten less than a length at Flemington and has pleased the stable since.
“He’s come through last week brilliantly,” Young said.
“It looks a nice race and he’s probably better suited at 1300 metres.
“I thought he hit the line good on Saturday, but he just wouldn’t go past those one in front of him.
“He did settle a bit too far back and sometimes up the straight, they need that first run up it so it wasn’t too bad merit-wise.”
He’s Our Bonneval will be out to end a recent run of near-misses for Bussutin and Young in Sydney with two of the duo’s past three runners, Mostly Cloudy and Brayden Star, having to settle for minor placings.
