INVERCARGILL REVIEW, JAN. 26, 2013
Burnham trainer-driver Mark Jones will give promising 3YO filly squaregaiter Juneamy Castleton her chance against the best 3YO boys in the $25,000 Neumanns Bandag Hambletonian Classic at Ashburton on February 9.
She was one of four driving wins at the Invercargill meeting on Saturday January 26 for Mark _ also scoring easily with unbeaten stablemate Saveapatrol, while he also won a Nevele R Fillies Heat with Flying Anvil, and the 1-2 win trot with Whitney.
“We’ll have a go at the Hambletonian with Juneamy and see where she’s at,” Mark said.
Juneamy Castleton is also growing in momentum for the $25,000 NZ Trotting Oaks at Addington on March 22.
Mark has driven three previous Hambletonian Trot winners _ Tony H (2002), Zuri (2004) and Shezoneoftheboyz (2010) _ while he has reined two NZ Trotting Oaks winners _ Pocaro (2009) and Commander Jewel (2011).
Juneamy Castleton, bred and raced by Lex and Heather Williams, stepped well off the 20m mark in the 1w and faster trot at Invercargill over 2700m last Saturday (January 26).
She strode to the front at the 1700m and was never in doubt afterwards, clearing out over her last 800m in 60.2s to win by 5 1/4 lengths.
Juneamy Castleton (Majestic Son-Anna Castleton) trotted the 2700m in 3:32.4 (2:06.5 mile rate) _ 1.9 seconds outside the NZ 3YO fillies mark, held by Lotalov.
She took her record to 12 starts for two wins and five placings for in stakes $12,742.
Saveapatrol couldn’t have been any more impressive notching his third win from as many starts in the $10,000 1-2 wins McKnight & Brown Special Handicap Pace.
The only disappointment was he missed out on a harness plus bonus.
“It was a bit annoying when the harness plus 3YO race didn’t go ahead and they didn’t carry the harness plus into the race they put him in,” Mark said.Despite missing a Harness plus opportunity, Saveapatrol will have several opportunities to win good money over the next few months.
His immediate target is the $25,000 Caduceus Club Of Southland Autumn Futurity at Invercargill on March 23.
Saveapatrol again showed he’s headed for the top, making the front and destroying his rivals.
The Christian Cullen-Rondel Franco gelding left his rivals gasping over his final 800m in 56.3s, dashing away to win untested by 7 1/4 lengths.
Saveapatrol paced the 2700m in 3:25.4 (a strong 2:02.4 mile rate). The former Neil Brady-trained pacer Seafield Raider holds the long-standing NZ 3YO stand start record for the distance at 3:23.6.
Mark was happy with his other Invercargill starters _ Ohoka Texas, who fought well for fourth after being left parked outside River Black in Franco Ledger’s $38,500 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup (won in a track record 3:58.7, 3200m) and Alex, who was unlucky finishing fifth in the 2-3 wins pace.
Ohoka Texas, race-timed in 4:00.9 for the 3200m, will now be freshened.
“He’ll have a break before the owners decide what to do with him,” Mark said.
MARK WINS SPONSORED RACE, JAN 17
Safely through the Southland Autumn Futuirty at Invercargill on March 23, trainer Mark Jones will look at both the $150,000 Ricoh New Zealand Derby on April 5, and the Southern Supremacy Stakes on April 21 with promising 3YO Saveapatrol.
Saveapatrol showed a good sense of occasion, being untroubled to win the Mark Jones-sponsored pace at the Northern Southland Trotting Club’s meeting at Invercargill on Thursday, January 17.
The Christian Cullen gelding will attempt to complete a hat-trick of south wins for owner Grant Hatton in another $10,000 3YO race on Invercargill Cup day next Saturday, January 26.
Mark didn’t hurry him out on Thursday, letting Brindy take up the running before moving him to the top with 1600m to run.
Saveapatrol had no concerns from that point, Mark just keeping his mind on the job over the final 100m to hold Brindy by a length in a comfortable 2:02 mile rate for the 2200m in conditions, not conducive to fast times.
He quickened over his last 800m in 57.9s and his closing 400m in 28.1s
Mark also has other south features _ the $25,0000 Caduceus Club of Southland Autumn Futurity on March 23, and the Group Two Southern Supremacy Stakes on April 21 _ on the radar for Saveapatrol.