GUADELOUPE MAKES MOST OF CHARMED INSIDE RUN
Nifty trotter Guadeloupe capitalised on good manners and a charmed inside opening to score at double figure odds in the 2-5 wins Temuka Transport Trot at Orari on Saturday, November 27.
After trailing three back on the markers turning for home, the leaders moved out turning for home and Mark shot Guadeloupe through to win as he liked from Justakiwiboy, who tracked him through.
Guadeloupe rounded out a $15,000-plus quaddie with upset Geraldine Cup winner Minty Mellow, and earlier winners Chal Dream and Wee Brother.
The 6YO Monarchy gelding had been marking time since an unlucky second behind The Moment at Kaikoura on November 1.
South Otago (Kuri Bush) owners Colin and Pat Harvey have had a good association with the Jones family.
The Harveys’ previously had horses trained by Mark’s late grandfather Derek Jones, who died four years ago, including former handy mare Amoeba, and her daughter Meika Lee.
The sheep and beef farmers have bred and raced horses for the last 22 years, with former top pacer Tax Credit their best.
Tax Credit won 15 races and $248,835 in NZ, and a further 20 races in North America taking a 1:52.4 mile record. Colin Harvey trained him to win his first six, then he was sent to Roy and Barry Purdon after winning his way out of Otago-Southland classes.
The former big-winning pacer was a 56-to-one upset winner of the 1988 NZ Free-For-All at Addington, nosing out that year’s New Zealand Cup winner and stablemate Luxury Liner.
The Harveys’ sent Guadeloupe to Mark last year after Colin had trained and driven the trotter to win first-up at Oamaru in April, 2009.
The trotter, named after an overseas region of France, south east of the United Kingdom, has now won twice for Mark and three from only 10 lifetime starts. He should continue to race on to good effect on the holiday Christmas circuit.