MASTER LAVROS WAITS FOR NEXT TERM Fans of promising 3YO Master Lavros won’t see the giant-sized squaregaiter racing again until the new season. Burnham trainer Mark Jones made the most of a penalty-free age group concession win with the Sundon gelding on the first day of the Marlborough winter meeting, Friday, June 15, 2012, before wrapping up his short winter campaign. “If I won another with him, it would mean I would keep going to try and win another after that,” he said. “I just want to look after him. I want him to come back in the low …
Tough for Holme Fire in Jewels
TOUGH FROM DRAW IN JEWELS Holme Fire, who performed as well as she could from her outside front row draw in the $150,000 Silk Restaurant Sky City 3YO Fillies Diamond at Cambridge on Saturday, June 2, has remained in the north for further winter racing with caretaker trainer Michelle Wallis. Driver David Butt eased her back to last early, then hopped on the three-wide train tracking up Cheer The Lady over the last 1200m. She fought on wide out for sixth, being race-timed in 1:55.8 for the mile. Fortune favoured the in-form Mark Purdon/Grant Payne-trained mare O Baby, who …
Suerte wins for Melbourne owners
SUERTE WINS PREMIER DAY, MAY 12, 2012 Suerte showed a good sense of timing to deliver for the Mark Jones stable in the presence of Melbourne owners, Merv and Meg Butterworth, on premier day at Addington, Saturday, May 12. The Butterworths flew to Christchurch after their former Southland trotter Knapdale girl was withdrawn from a feature trot final in South Australia on Saturday. They had a stellar day with a winning Addington treble. Didjamakem Bolt and Best Deal Yet, two other Southland purchases, now racing for the Mark Purdon/Grant Payne stable, were also in rampant form.Blair Orange, successful …
Princeton delivers, Rangiora, April 29
PRINCETON DELIVERS RANGIORA WIN The Mark Jones stable moved to just under $300,000 in winnings for the season from 39 wins when Princeton delivered for his supporters at Rangiora on Sunday, April 29. Given a good run in behind the leaders, the 4YO Bettor’s Delight-Emcil gelding stormed home when in the clear for Mark to win going away by three-quarters of a length. The effort capped a solid but luckless form-line in his latest racing. Princeton paced the 2000m (stand) in 2:36.2, the leaders quickening over their last 800m in 57.6s and final 400m in a sizzling 26.6s. He was …
OK Courage in Sydney
OK COURAGE LEAVES FOR SYDNEY OK Courage, who wound up his NZ career at Forbury on April 5, was one of seven either sold, or to be exported, from the Mark Jones stable in either March or early April. “OK Courage is off to join Ashlee Seijka in Sydney after Forbury,” Mark said. OK Courage has been well placed in NZ, starting 40 times for 12 wins (six penalty-free), 11 placings and $104,389, for Queensland owner Greg Brodie.He should have better opportunities in New South Wales. Buzz Courage (3g Courage Under Fire-Honey Franco), another Brodie-owned pacer, who won a …
Half-sisters win at Gore
TWO OUTA THREE AT GORE Meat Loaf’s former famous song title ‘Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” summarised the day for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones on a slushy Gore March day on Sunday, March 11. He delivered twice early on the Gore programme with the Greg Brodie-trained half-sisters, Mach Kana and Christian Seel. He then had to settle for second with Ardlussa Express behind flying southern mare Southern Sun over a slick sub 57s final 800m in the conditions in the PGG Wrightson Aon Insurance Brokers Special Handicap Pace. The winning Gore double advanced the Jones stable …
Christian Seel, 1:56.1, mile debut
SMART ASHBURTON DEBUT Burnham trainer Mark Jones will look for a Nevele R Fillies Heat run with Christian Seel after her impressive 1:56.1 mile, first-up, to win at Ashburton on Saturday, February 11. “Greg (Brodie, owner) already has Holme Fire qualified. She’s not as good as Holme Fire, but is worth running in a heat,” he said. Christian Seel, after settling back on the outer, improved with cover and sprinted best in the straight to win easing down by 3 1/4 lengths. She was too quick in the home, coming clear of pacemaker Camgoli Cam and Between The Lines, which …
Texas too good in Invercargill Cup
‘TEXAS’ SUPERIOR STAYER Burnham trainer Mark Jones has his sights set on a crack at November’s New Zealand Cup with Invercaill Cup winner Ohoka Texas. ‘Texas’ proved much too strong at his first race over 3200m in the $40,000 Ascot Park Hotel-sponsored Invercargill Cup on Saturday, January 28. Mark was in awe of the Christian Cullen entire for his tough race attitude following the win. “He went great again. He is an unreal horse that you admire for his racing style,” Mark said. Ohoka Texas tangled away, losing around 20m before settling, but after working to the front …
Holme Fire has wind operation
FILLIES WINNER HAS WIND OPERATION HOLME FIRE HAS WIND OPERATION Holme Fire, a 44-to-one upset winner of the $18,000 Nevele R Stud 3YO Fillies Heat at Waterlea on Friday, January 13, underwent surgery for a minor wind affliction on Tuesday, January 17. Trainer Mark Jones wants to have her at 100 percent for the big fillies races in the autumn. He was very pleased to qualify the younger sister to open class pacer Pembrook Benny (1:53.6) for the big Nevele R final in the opening South Island heat.“Its good she’s qualified so I don’t have to panic …
Texas wins Pelorus, In’gill Cup next
TEXAS FOR INVERCARGILL CUP Ohoka Texas, fast developing as a potential New Zealand Cup contender in November, will be put to the test over the extreme distance at Invercargill on January 28. Burnham trainer Mark Jones confirmed he will send the Christian Cullen south for the $40,000 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup on January 28. Ohoka Texas couldn’t have been any more impressive when he trounced his rivals by 7 3/4 lengths in the $40,000 Pelorus 4YO Classic at Waterlea on Sunday, January 15.After striding to the front with 1500m to run, Mark kept the pace strong with Ohoka …