SARKOZY NOTCHES HAT-TRICK
Sarkozy’s good manners from a stand again helped him to notch his third win on end at the Rangiora meeting on May 8.
Mark had him handily placed handy on the outer over the first lap of the 1-2 win Goodwin Contracting Pace, then sent him to the front beginning the last lap.
The promising McArdle gelding dashed clear turning for him and he did enough to hold late-closing second favourite Far Too Rusty by a neck in 3:17.4 (2600m stand), a mile rate of 2:02.1.
Sarkozy ran his last 800m in 57.9s and final 400m in 29.4s to rack up his third win from six starts.
The winning spree of Sarkozy has resurrected the light blue and red colours of co-owner Max Bowden, a former syndicator, who enjoyed good success in the early 1990s when the same colours were carried to victory with syndicate horses.
The colours made a return last winter when San Fran Lady won three under the guidance of Mark Jones before being sold to New South Wales interests.
One of Mr Bowden’s best syndicate horses was Funky Town, who numbered five wins from only 23 starts including the 1991 DB Draught Nelson Centenntial Cup, when trained by Erin Crawford and driven by Colin De Filippi, for the Max Bowden Guys And Dolls Syndicate.
Funky Town was a son of Clever Innocence, the Nero stallion Mr Bowden imported from North America before on-selling him to Neville Benny of Spring Park Stud.
Also in the early 90s, Max had high hopes for a Direct Scooter colt he brought to New Zealand called Kiwi Almahurst, who won six of 20 starts when prepared by Brian Saunders, before being exported to Australia.
One of Mr Bowden’s best former horses was former smart young 1980s pacer Lyndon Robert (named after his son, now a co-owner of Sarkozy).
The pacer Lyndon Robert, a Nardins Byrd gelding who won 12 of 47 starts when trained by Robert Dunn, before being exported to North America.
“We purchased three broodmares about six years ago and we’re just getting into it again, ” said Max, who had a break from racehorse ownership after becoming Harness Racing New Zealand for a term in the mid to late 1990s.
Emcil, the Miles McCool dam of earlier winners bred by Mr and Mrs Bowden in San Fran Lady and Union Buster (both in NSW), is now represented in the Jones stable by 3YO pacer Princeton.
The Bettor’s Delight gelding has been given time to develop after finishing unplaced at his race debut at Ashburton in February.
Oh So Precious, the Son Of Afella dam of Sarkozy, was one of the mares Mr Bowden’s wife Frances, purchased, She has Sarkozy leased to herself, Max, and Lyndon.
After leaving a year young P-Forty-Seven filly and another filly to Riverboat King, now a yearling, Oh So Precious died last year, aged 15.
Mrs Bowden also has a 5YO Live or Die mare from Oh So Precious called Eliza Griffiths, and has a 4YO Julius Caesar mare Blanca Martinez, leased to northern horseman Tommy Cowan.
The Bowdens’ were attracted to the family as Browngate Missy, the Tudor Hanover dam of Oh So Precious, left three four big winning pacers towards the end of her breeding career.
Oh So Precious also belongs to the same family as former smart fillies Steady Lady (1:55.4, US), Steady Niatross, Magnificent Yield and Speedy Girl.
By Jeff Scott