Bonnici hoping for extra special success on Humbletonian Day

Victory for any of the connections on Humbletonian Day will be a special result, but it might just carry a little extra significance for Altona Meadows horseman David Bonnici.

The 53-year-old will prepare his squaregaiter Another Nip for the opening event on the Maryborough 12-race card specifically for maidens, which has become one of the most popular days of racing in Victoria over the last decade.

If successful in breaking his maiden, the Bacardi Lindy entire will also provide Bonnici the first win of a training career that spans two decades.

“It would be special,” Bonnici said of a breakthrough triumph.

“He’s a nice horse and (I’m) just having a bit of fun with him. It’s good going to the races knowing that you’ve got a bit of a chance.”

Bonnici, a bobcat and tipper operator, first took a horse to the races in his name back in 2001 but through the next 20 years has only ever had 18 more starters. He was missing from the training ranks after 2003 but returned when Lucky Keringle had a one-off start in 2018 and has maintained a presence through Another Nip.

The five-year-old has run three placings – all at Kilmore – from five career starts and has drawn well in barrier one for Wednesday’s Harness Breeders Victoria Vicbred Maiden Trot where he will be driven by Michael Bellman.

“I think if he does everything right, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be thereabouts,” Bonnici said.

HBV is the major sponsor of the day and will provide a $250 cash bonus to breeders of all winners. The Victorian Square Trotters Association, Maryborough Harness Racing Club and Harness Racing Victoria will also offer a range of bonuses and trophies in addition to the prizemoney and Vicbred boosts already attached to the races.

A total of 981 winless starts have been had by the 115 runners (minus scratchings and including emergency Ashford Secret in race nine) engaged on Wednesday, with 192 placings between them. Larry Lynch-trained Starzz In Disguise is the horse with the most amount of starts (41) on the card and she lines up in race four, the Harness Breeders Victoria Vicbred Maiden Pace.

Prizemoney earnt by all runners who started at Humbletonian 2020 has surpassed $2million, with more than 200 victories recorded in total.

Paul Campbell, Tim O’Connor, Toby McKinnon and caller Lachlan McIntosh will bring you all the joy and celebration during a blockbuster afternoon of TrotsVision coverage, which kicks off shortly before the first event at 12.01pm.

McKinnon will also host a special edition of Trots Life from Maryborough, which will commence at 11am on SEN Track.

>> READ MORE: A big year since Humbletonian 2020 as maidens amaze