Little things make for a great day

“Enjoy the little things in life because one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.”

ALTHOUGH the line is credited to Kurt Vonnegut junior, it is a philosophy Melton horseman Brandon Bonavia adheres to – especially after yesterday’s Warragul meeting.

Heading to the provincial track with his wife Mell, five children – and even the in-laws – in tow, Bonavia was looking forward to enjoying a family day at the races…anything else would be a bonus.

To the extended Bonavia Bunch’s delight, the journey ended with that little extra touch thanks Grizzly Montana’s gutsy victory.

While Bonavia has made numerous trips to the winners’ circle as a trainer, Grizzly Montana’s success came complete with the “little things”.

“It is the first time I have won a trophy and a rug, so I’m rapt,” Bonavia declared. “It’s probably not a big deal to most people in the sport, but to me it just adds to the win.

“I had my wife, kids and in-laws there for the day and we had a ball.

“We decided to make it a fun day out win, lose or draw, but getting the win along with the other prizes made for a great day.”

Driven by in-form concession driver Michelle Phillips, Grizzly Montana was given time to settle from his second row draw before being sent forward three-wide to test the leader, Jilliby Roy, from the ‘death seat’.

Bullocking his way to the front along the back straight, the son of Lanercost dashed clear during the concluding stages to score by eight-and-a-half metres from Caledonian Terra.

Fly Cheval was 11 metres away third in 1:57.5 over 1790 metres.

“That’s the kind of run I expected from him,” Bonavia said. “We bought him from Queensland thinking he would be suited to some of the racing here, but when he got here was so thin I sent him to a paddock.

“After he put on a bit of condition and got going I was happy with his first run when he finished second then at his next start he got out of his gear and broke at Tabcorp Park Melton.

“That’s his third start for us and he was much better behaved.

“There is a race for him at Yarra Valley next week I’m thinking of putting him in and then we’ll go from there.”