GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME FORWARD IN WORKOUT
Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has capable mare Goodness Gracious Me warming up for the summer circuit.
Goodness Gracious Me challenges Willow over the closing stages at the Rangiora workouts on December 3.
Goodness Gracious Me, first-up since July, ran Willow close at the Rangiora workouts on Wednesday, December 3.
The 4YO Christian Cullen mare is the winner of four from 23 starts, but reverts to the C2 grade with dropback age group concessions.
She trailed three back for Mark behind the Allstars stablemates Willow and Linda Lovegrace in the C2-4 mobile heat on Wednesday.
Goodness Gracious Me may have headed Willow in the run home before the latter kicked back for a half a head win.
“She (Goodness Gracious Me) blew out the last little bit,” Mark said.
“I’ll look for a junior drivers race, then she can go to to Winton for (Southern Belle) Speed Series heat on December 29th,” he said.
Willow ran the mobile 2000m in 2:30.2 (2:00.8 mile rate) in the hands of Tim Williams, the winner pacing her last 800m in 57.2s and final 400m in 27.4s.
Strike On Command, a catch drive for Wayne Higgs, tailed the five horse field and wasn’t asked for a serious effort in the run home.
Rocker Band, the daughter of Rocknroll Hanover and Mainland Banner, arrives in time to beat Nui Toc Tien (inner, not in picture) & Duke Of Albany at the Rangiora workouts.
Rocker Band, the qualified but unraced 3YO filly by Rocknroll Hanover from 2005 New Zealand Cup winner Mainland Banner (1:55.1), shaped well winning a C0 mobile pace.
She backed up a good finish at the workouts a week earlier by coming from back and wide to run down raceplaced Nui Toc Tien, the latter a newcomer to the Steve Dolan team.
Rocker Band won the mobile 2000m heat in 2:34.9, the leaders running their last 800m in 58.8s and final 400m in 28.8s.
The Greg Brodie-owned Rocker Band could make her race debut at Winton on December 20.
“She’s not paid up for anything, but we could make the $14,000 late payment for the Nevele R with her,” Mark said.
Rocker Band was put aside after she beat Storm Maguire, Whitershadeofpale and Maritime Arden, in a 2000m qualifier (2:02 rate) at Rangiora in April.
Qualified but unraced Bettor Luck (4g Bettor’s Delight-Pocket Conquest, by In The Pocket-Victor Supreme), battled away for third behind Danielle Van De Camp and As Kiwi As in his C0 heat in 3:29.9 (2600m).
Bettor Luck trailed up for Michelle Neilson. He has taken time after running fifth of seven in his qualifier at Ashburton in November last year.
Kowhai Sunrise, resuming, led up in the C1-3 trot but broke and failed to settle in the run home, allowing Clifden Clowers to beat Sunrise Invasion in 3:30 (2600m).