SAVEAPATROL WINS FUTURITY
Saveapatrol, backed down to $1.30 win favouritism,l comprehensively delivered in the $25,000 Caduceus Club Of Southland Autumn Futurity at Invercargill on Saturday, March 24.
Even from the outside of the front row and easing back to last early, the robust Christian Cullen-Rondel Franco geldingl was clearly a class above his rivals.
Trainer Mark Jones had him on the move mid-race, taking control a lap out from Treasure Hunter and Deano Robyn.
Saveapatrol left his rivals gasping turning for home, putting three lengths on the pack.
He knocked off a touch inside the final 100m, with Treasure Hunter reducing the winning margin to 1 1/2 lengths, but was never in danger, rating 2:01.6 for the mobile 2200m, running his last 800m in 58.4s and closing 400m in 27.6s.
Saveapatrol’s only defeat in five starts came after working hard mid-race in a 1:56.6 rate (1950m) by Blazin N Cullen at his previous start at Addington and he deserves a chance at Group One level against Ohoka Punter and company.
The Mark Jones stable advanced their seasonal earnings over the $200,000 mark early on the Northern Southland programme when McPocket staged an impressive debut from a wide gate in the John Higgins Insurance/ Murray Brown Harness Stables Mobile Pace.
Eased back off the gate and standing up the leaders a big start in the early stages, McPocket improved to be handy on the outer at the 400m and kept coming strongly to wear down longshot Ascot Boy.
Raced by Gold Coast owner Greg Brodie, McPocket justified his $2 favouritism, rating 2:00.5 for the mobile 2200m, the leaders running their last 800m in 58.2s and 28.2s.
Don Ho was also sent out a warm favourite in the next maiden, but after being left in the open, hit the front early in the run home, then lost any winning hope when he broke stride with 100m to run, finishing sixth.
Mach Kana, after trailing up well over the first lap, was luckless over the final lap, being left out three wide in the up to 1-win 3YO fillies pace, tiring to run ninth.