Croft Bay, Amissaduqa, Styx Vixen, leave for Australia

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CROFT BAY, AMISSADUQA, STYX VIXEN, LEAVE FOR AUSTRALIA

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones sold three of the race team to Australian interests late last month including useful performer Croft Bay, winner of five from only 19 starts for $27,472.

Croft Bay, and Sam Ottley, in action, winning at Addington on July 31.

Croft Bay, and Sam Ottley, in action, winning at Addington on July 31.

“He did a good job here and hopefully he can race on good over there like his half-brothers, Montana Falcon and McPocket,” Mark said.

Montana Falcon, a 1:53.2 son of Falcon Seelster, has won $167,719 from 25 wins and 29 placings in 114 starts, while McPocket, a 1:53.3 gelding by McArdle, has also made his mark in Australia.

After winning once and being three times placed in seven NZ starts for the Mark Jones stable and owner Greg Brodie, McPocket has earned $90,157 across the Tasman from 10 wins and 14 placings in 40 starts.

Croft Bay, a year younger brother to another useful winner in Pat Campbell (1:59.3, four wins from 26 starts), are both by Lis Mara.

He kept stepping up at Addington over the winter with tenacious efforts, winning two of his last five Addington starts.

He scored three of his NZ wins at Addington, with the other two coming at Nelson.

Also Australia-bound were Methven 3000m stand start maiden winner Ammisaduqa (4g Gotta Go Cullect-Venus Devine), and qualified but unraced 3YO filly Styx Vixen (Bettor’s Delight-Foxy Styx), who qualified in 2:33.1 (2000m) when second to Willedu at Rangiora on September 14.

Ammisaduqa, shown scoring a comfortable win over Jonty James in the 3000m distance maiden at Methven on September 18.

Ammisaduqa, shown scoring a comfortable win over Jonty James in the 3000m distance maiden at Methven on September 18.

Ammisaduqa won second-up in NZ for breeders Darryl and Dean Jones, defeating subsequent Motukarara maiden winner Jonty Jones, in the Methven distance maiden on September 18.

Meanwhile, last season’s smart 2YO pacing filly Delightful Memphis, is set to return at the Rangiora workouts tomorrow.

Mark has decided not to take an embryo from smart racemare Rocker Band this season as he doesn’t want to interrupt her race schedule.

“Its not really going to work out as she’ll probably stay up at Clevedon with Barry (Purdon) until after the Queen Of Hearts in December,” Mark said.

Meanwhile, he is in no hurry returning last year’s Dominion Handicap winner Master Lavros to racing, who is unlikely to race again until early next year.

“He could have been back up for the Dominion (next month) but there is no point  bringing him up too soon for a race like that and breaking him down again. We’ll just take our time and give him every chance of making a successful comeback,” he said.

By Jeff Scott