ALEX WINS HARNESS PLUS MAIDEN
Burnham trainer Mark Jones showed good placement when Alex justified his $1.20 win favouritism to win a harness plus maiden, the Mainline Electrical Mobile Pace, at Forbury Park on Friday, December 9, 2011.
Alex (3g Courage Under Fire-Alegria), the younger brother to former smart filly Alexis (1:55.9), racing as Glenferrie Alexis in Victoria, credited Mark with his 15th training win for the term.
Alexis, the runnerup to Lauraella in the 2009 New Zealand Oaks when formerly trained by Mark for former Queensland owner Greg Brodie, has gone on to win 18 races and $225,583 in Australia, winning the Maryborough and Yarra Valley Cups this season.
Both Alexis and Alex are brothers to Jackaroozy (1:57), who also began his career at Overport Lodge and has taken his career record to six wins and 18 placings for $43,847 in stakes in New South Wales.
Their dam Alegria (Caprock-Miesque) is an unraced sister to former top pacer Mac De Stroyer (1:54.6, 11 NZ wins, & 1.49.8, US), who contested a NZ Cup for former Pukekohe trainer Todd MacFarlane, and half-sister to good mare Ill Informed (1:58.3, six wins & $80,424), who raced for Rolleston co-breeder, co-owner and trainer, Lindsay Blackmore.
Their dam Miesque (Plat du Jour-Nicky Trae) won once from two starts for Linsday Blackmore and was a sister to Dela Rentae (three wins), another winner for the Blackmores.
Nicky Trae (Jersey Hanover-Senatus) was a sister to another good Blackmore winner in Richina, who won seven in NZ before being exported to North America.
Alex , raced by Queensland breeder-owner Greg Brodie, was untroubled to lead throughout in a moderate field at Forbury, coming clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 2:48.2 for the mobile 2200m (2:03 mile rate), quickening over his last 800m in 57.5s and 400m in 28.8s.
The 3YO was given time to strength after placing once in six 2YO starts.
Mark was the dominating driver on the Forbury programme, notching four wins on the nine-race programme.
He combined with former boss Cran Dalgety for a winning double with favourites, Bettors Creek and Wotavugot.
Bettors Creek, like Alex, a $1.20 win favourite, led over the last 1900m of the 2-win Acme Metal & Drum Pace, coming clear to win by 1 3/4 lengths from Freyberg, who trailed and lodged a brief challenge early in the run home.
Mark stepped Wotavugot, another favourite, straight to the front in the 3-7 wins Custom Home Products Discretionary Pace and they were always in control, scoring easily by 2 1/2 lengths from Vic N Art, quickening over their last 800m in 56.6s.
Mark also stepped Lake Hood Lass well from an outside draw in the night’s opener, the City Ford Trot. The Continentalman mare, prepared by Ashburton breeder-owner-trainer Alex Millar, finished best to wear down Kayleighs Dream and also justify her win favouritism.
The four-win spree in the sulky lifted Mark to 24 driving wins for the season.