BADJELLYS COURAGE SCORES
The Mark Jones Racing Stables notched their first NSW win with Badjellys Courage, who cleared out to win by 15.4 metres at the Bathurst twilight meeting on Wednesday, August 22.
The Courage Under Fire-Badjelly The Wytch gelding was sent out a hot $1.50 favourite in the hands of Regan Todd and was untroubled to lead throughout to win in a comfortable 2:03.3 rate for the 1730m.
He quickened over his last 800m in 60.9s and his final 400m in 29.6s to take out the $A5000 Shannon Springs Two-Year-Old Pace for his maiden victory.
“The stable is going good over there with four starts for a win, two seconds and a fourth, for over $NZ10k,” Mark said.
“The horses are earning a lot more money and only been there three weeks.”
Stablemate and older brother Jellignite finished second a day earlier in a $A7000 Cordina Chicken Farms Pace at Menangle in a 1:59 rate over 2300m.
Jellignite moved up parked over the final 400m but had to settle for a 4.1 metres second to NZ-bred Ashoka (Grinfromeartoear-New York On Sunday), who led and slowed the field, then sprinted best over the last quarter in 27.6s.
STABLEMATES SOUND FIRST-UP
Brothers, (My) Jellignite and Badjelly’s Courage, were sound finishing fourth and second respectively first-up at Tabcorp Park, Menangle, on Tuesday, August 14.
Jellignite (Regan Todd) was given every chance in the trail from the ace draw in the C6-10 TAB Number One Club Pace but couldn’t reel in the leaders in the run home.
Left Loaded (Darren Hancock) moved up parked and wore down front-running ex-Kiwi Im Fulla Luck in a fast 1:52.9 for the 1609m
Louis Lad ran on to take third, with Jellignite next after angling off the leaders back in the run home but just peaking the last bit.
BADJELLY’S COURAGE SECOND
Trainer Mark Jones made the trip across to drive maiden Badjelly’s Courage in the day’s opener, the Rydges Campbelltown Pace for two-year-old pacers at Menangle on Tuesday, August 14.
After showing good gate speed to lead from the six gate, they were outfinished in the run home by Art Major colt Apache who moved up in the open turning for home and won by 3.8m.
Mark rated Badjelly’s Courage well, getting away with good early fractions, but the winner was too good over a fast final 400m in 27.4s.
Apache ran the 1609m in 2:00.8, the leaders running their last 800m in 60.2s.
Mark also drove Sally Hemmings to finish fifth for owner Greg Brodie and Bathurst trainer Peter Russo in a 3YO pace.
After giving her a good run three back on the markers, she was sound without being able to reel in the leaders in the run home.
OK Courage paced a swift 1:52.7 mile to win a M2-4 pace at Tabcorp Park, Menangle, on Saturday night, June 30.
The former Mark Jones-trained pacer notched his third win from four NSW starts when taking out the $24,000 Married To The Mob Pace.
The 6YO Courage Under Fire-OK Adios gelding is now trained at Bathurst by Peter Russo and was driven by Ashlee Seijka.
OK Courage, still raced by Queensland owner Greg Brodie, won $104,389 in NZ when prepared by Mark, winning 12 of 40 starts, before being transferred to New South Wales.
He drew out to win by 5.8 metres during his fast Menangle mile, the leaders running their last 800m in 55.8s and closing 400m in 27.3s.
Former West Melton pacer The Big Mach chased him home, with fellow NZ-bred Matai Zinga third.
Other ex-Kiwis in the race were Flying Diamonds (fifth), Feels Like Magic (sixth), Cullens Crown (seventh) and Pay Me Christian (10th).
Jackaroozy, another handy winner in NZ when prepared by Mark Jones for owner Greg Brodie, was also in winning form in Australia on Saturday night, winning a M1 pace at Albion Park, Brisbane, in a 1:59.3 rate over 2138m.