TWO OUTA THREE AT GORE Meat Loaf’s former famous song title ‘Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” summarised the day for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones on a slushy Gore March day on Sunday, March 11. He delivered twice early on the Gore programme with the Greg Brodie-trained half-sisters, Mach Kana and Christian Seel. He then had to settle for second with Ardlussa Express behind flying southern mare Southern Sun over a slick sub 57s final 800m in the conditions in the PGG Wrightson Aon Insurance Brokers Special Handicap Pace. The winning Gore double advanced the Jones stable …
Glenferrie Challenge starts next month
INAUGURAL $200K ANZAC CUP ANNOUNCED Some slight tweeking to trotting’s hottest new race looks set to benefit New Zealand’s trotting elite. Alexandra Park will host the $200,000 Anzac Cup on April 27 as the middle leg of a triple crown named the Glenferrie Challenge. The three-race series will start with the $25,000 Greenlane Cup on April 20 and culminate in the $150,000 Rowe Cup on May 4. But it is the Anzac Cup which will prove the most fascinating as it is rare a race worth so much is developed out of nowhere. The concept is the brainchild …
Four 2YOs qualify at Ashburton
FOUR JUVENILES GAIN THEIR TICKETS Trainer Mark Jones qualified four two-year-old pacers, all going well under the 2:04.4 standard for the 1609m, at the Ashburton trials on Tuesday, March 13. Glenferrie Rustler (Lis Mara-Exceptional Lass colt) led up in the first 2YO pace, and although outfinished to wind up fifth of five in the run home, ran a solid 2:01.1, as winner Donegal Chokin went on to score in 2:00. Ideal Arden (American Ideal-Madam Maroussia colt) trailed third for Scott Stewart and finished under two lengths from the winner, clocking 2:00.6. Classiebee (McArdle-Ceebee colt) led up in the 2nd …
Christian Seel, 1:56.1, mile debut
SMART ASHBURTON DEBUT Burnham trainer Mark Jones will look for a Nevele R Fillies Heat run with Christian Seel after her impressive 1:56.1 mile, first-up, to win at Ashburton on Saturday, February 11. “Greg (Brodie, owner) already has Holme Fire qualified. She’s not as good as Holme Fire, but is worth running in a heat,” he said. Christian Seel, after settling back on the outer, improved with cover and sprinted best in the straight to win easing down by 3 1/4 lengths. She was too quick in the home, coming clear of pacemaker Camgoli Cam and Between The Lines, which …
NZSBA announce winter mares series
GOLDEN GIRLS WINTER MARES SERIES The NZSBA is excited to announce a new nationwide racing series starting mid-May. The Golden Girls series is a joint venture between HRNZ and NZSBA to provide 4YO and older mares increased opportunities to race and earn that all important black type, prior to the end of the season. This series will cater for 0 – 1 win with lifetime earnings of $10,000 and 2–4 win pacing mares with lifetime earnings of $40,000. Trotters will also be represented with a 0 – 1 win series with $10,000 lifetime earnings. The national series will provide …
Holme Fire wins 2nd Fillies Heat
HOLME FIRE NOTCHES 2ND NEVELE R HEAT Holme Fire, first-up after a slight re-condition, claimed her second $18,000 Nevele R Fillies Heat, this time in the slush at the Hororata TC’s meeting at Addington on Friday, February 24. The Courage Under Fire filly seems better since undergoing a minor wind operation after she won the Marlborough Nevele R Heat on mid January, missing about 10 days work. She was sent out the favourite after a strong second at the Rangiora workouts last Saturday and proved too good on Friday night in the wet conditions for catch-driver Blair Orange. Orange …
Holme Fire 2nd in workout
HOLME FIRE 2ND IN RANGIORA WORKOUT Marlborough Nevele R Fillies Heat winner Holme Fire resumed from a minor wind operation with a handy second to Jackaroo Bromac at the Rangiora workouts on Saturday, February 18. The Courage Under Fire filly settled well in the trail for Scott Stewart behind Comply Or Die and finished well when clear for a neck second to Jackaroo Bromac (Wayne Higgs). The winner moved up parked over the last 900m and held over the mobile 200m in 2:32.1 in the 1-win mobile pace, the leaders running their last 800m in 57.7s and final …
Buzz Courage delivers as hot favourite
BUZZ COURAGE DELIVERS IN ADDINGTON MAIDEN Buzz Courage, who features the bloodlines of two of owner Greg Brodie’s most successful racehorses, registered the 34th training win of the season for the Mark Jones stable at Addington on Thursday, February 16. The win also put Overport Lodge junior reinsman Regan Todd into double figures for the term, moving to 10 wins for the season and 61 for his career. Buzz Courage, by former champion pacer and successful sire Courage Under Fire, is from Honey Franco, a qualified but unraced sister to another former Grand Circuit pacer raced by Mr …
Texas too good in Invercargill Cup
‘TEXAS’ SUPERIOR STAYER Burnham trainer Mark Jones has his sights set on a crack at November’s New Zealand Cup with Invercaill Cup winner Ohoka Texas. ‘Texas’ proved much too strong at his first race over 3200m in the $40,000 Ascot Park Hotel-sponsored Invercargill Cup on Saturday, January 28. Mark was in awe of the Christian Cullen entire for his tough race attitude following the win. “He went great again. He is an unreal horse that you admire for his racing style,” Mark said. Ohoka Texas tangled away, losing around 20m before settling, but after working to the front …
Telemecanique resumes in workout
TELEMECANIQUE BACK IN NZ Telemecanique, who returned from America to New Zealand in October, is just an outside chance to campaign in Sydney on this preparation. Burnham co-owner Mark Jones says he wasn’t that happy with her after she resumed the 2-wins and faster mobile pace at the Addington workouts on Monday, January 30. Telemecanique tailed the field throughout the mobile 1950m workout. “If she doesn’t improve with a few more trials she can spell and work back through the winter,” he said. “If she improves on this preparation she can race in Sydney.” Telemecanique, a six-year-old Falcon Seelster …