SUPREME GEM WINS EARLY SEPT. DOUBLE Burnham trainer Mark Jones would ultimately like to take Supreme Gem to Menangle, New South Wales, for some mile racing. She would be suited to a strong pace over sprint distances there. However, her immediate plans were undecided after racing at Addington on Friday, September 9. Mark would like to give her some time off but at the same time he doesn’t want to change anything while she’s going good. The Christian Cullen-Flying Sands mare led and was always in control in the $10,000 Metalcorp NZ Ltd Mobile Pace at Addington. She …
Jewel transferred to Melbourne
JEWEL SENT TO MELBOURNE NZ Trotting Oaks winner Commander Jewel flew to Melbourne on September 4, 2011, after being transferred by Oxford owner “Jim” McDonald to the Victorian stable of Chris Lang. Burnham trainer Mark Jones says he was very disappointed not only to lose Commander Jewel, but also not to be informed of the transfer. “I’m disappointed to lose the trotter and their other horses, especially after trying to look after Commander Jewel and give her time she needs,” Mark said. Commander Jewel, a big daughter of CR Commando, raced 12 times in Jones’ black and white colours …
Bob eyes country cups
BABES BOY BOB EYES COUNTRY CUPS Babes Boy Bob, the first of two early season winners for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones this term, may take in some country summer cups before heading to Sydney mid-season. “Bob went good at Addington (beating Datmymulligan and Floyd Mayweather on August 4, 2011), but not so good at Rangiora last Sunday,” Mark said. “He’ll race here for a bit,” Mark said. “With his stand start manners, we’ll look at the odd country cups, then in three-six months he’ll probably go to Sydney.” “We’ve got to keep his winning stakes under $15,000 …
Lethal Rocket shines in NSW
LETHAL ROCKET WINS MENANGLE DOUBLE Former Overport Lodge pacer Lethal Rocket notched back-to-back wins at Menangle in his latest racing for NSW trainer-driver Darren Hancock on Saturday night, August 21, 2011. The former well-performed Kiwi took out the $A17,0000 Number One Club Stable Discretionary Handicap (Class D). After leading out then trailing, he defeated fellow ex-Cantab, The Big Mach by 3.1 metres. Lethal Rocket paced the 2300m from a stand in a smart 2:49.7 (1:58.7 mile rate), the leaders quickening over their last 800m in 56.1s and final 400om in 27.2s. Former South Island squaregaiter Makarewa Sun also …
Anita Patron first-up winner
ANITA PATRON FIRST-UP ADDINGTON WINNER Anita Patron provided Canterbury racecaller Mark McNamara, and an associate ownership group, including two first-time owners, with the perfect first-up result from the Mark Jones stable at Addington last Friday, July 22, 2011. The five-strong ownership team were over the moon after Anita Patron burst through along the sprint lane to win the Searells Chartered Accountants Mobile Pace. However Mark McNamara thought he’d ended up with a “dud” after his first meeting with Anita Patron at Overport Lodge eight days earlier. “She didn’t eat for the first few days and worked terrible the …
Bedlam wins in blizzard
BEDLAM WINS IN FORBURY BLIZZARD Bedlam, who had to combat a blizzard to win as a late 2YO at Forbury Park on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, will return to racing a maiden as a 3YO. “I was triple rugged up,” Mark said. “It was snowing in the preliminary.” The freezing temperatures were a complete contrast to the summer weather he experienced on a recent trip to France, where he had a day which reached 38 degrees celsius. Mark is to turn Bedlam out for six weeks after the rising 3YO son of Washington V C led throughout to …
Change Of luck for Syndicate
CHANGE OF LUCK FOR SYNDICATE Tiz Tough’s minor upset win in the Speciality Spit Roasts Catering Company Mobile Pace at Addington on Friday, July 15, brought a welcome change of luck for the Red and Blue Syndicate. They leased a half-share in the Falcon Seelster filly last November after having little luck with their previous ventures. They race her with Nelson co-owner Peter Fry. Trainer Mark Jones thought she may have been an early winner after qualifying in a useful 2:31.8 for the mobile 2000m at Addington in November, but she has taken a few months to toughen up. …
Village Anvil fortuitous winner
VILLAGE ANVIL FORTUITOUS WINNER Village Anvil fortuitously delivered as a $2 favourite in the Washington VC Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace at Forbury on July 1. Village Anvil held her maiden win despite tangling when trailing at the 900m, checking the trailing Simply Genius. The stewards dismissed the inquiry after Village Anvil recovered to run down Anita Patron by a neck in a 2:01.4 mile rate for the 1700m. Village Anvil’s stablemate Courage Talks, who was racing outside Village Anvil when she broke at the 900m, held third for driver Regan Todd. “We made things a bit harder for …
Lethal Rocket sold
LETHAL ROCKET SOLD TO NSW The Overport Lodge team has farewelled tight class pacer Lethal Rocket, who has been sold to clients of Darren Hancock’s stable in New South Wales. The 6YO Pacific Rocket-Shesa Vance gelding furthered a strong career record for trainer Mark Jones over the last two years. “He was sold because of lack of suitable races for him with the NZ handicapping system,” Mark said. “If we brought him up again next season he would have to race the best in races like the Hannon Memorial and Ashburton Flying Stakes.” Lethal Rocket began his career …
No Victoria Oaks for ‘Jewel’
COMMANDER JEWEL STAYS HOME Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has cancelled a proposed $A50,000 Victoria Trotting Oaks start for Commander Jewel at Tabcorp Park, Melton, on Friday, June 10. Mark had planned to send the CR Commando filly across to Australia next Wednesday, but has reviewed those plans after she galloped and failed to settle in the $100,000 Overport Lodge 3YO Ruby at Ashburton on Jewels day, Saturday, June 4. The NZ Trotting Oaks winner tailed the field in the Ruby, won by favourite Paramount Geegee, who was too strong for the Phil Williamson-trained stablemates Springbank Sam …