KAHDON SMASHES THEM Several boom Kiwi trotters have crossed the Tasman in recent years and not lived up to the hype, but Kahdon spared herself a spot on that list with a stunning win in the Group 1 Dallas Building Victoria Trotters Oaks at Melton on Friday, June 11. The impressive filly proved a class above a team of rivals that included Group 1-winning locals Good Thanks and Elusive Charm in the $A50,000 event at Melton’s Tabcorp Park. She made it 6 wins and 4 minor placings from 13 starts. The Sundon filly had won the time-honoured Northern Trotting …
Crystal Star _ always a ‘star’
THE LATE BILL McDONALD KNEW SHE WOULD BE GOOD Oxford owner “Jim” McDonald can thank his late brother Bill McDonald (of Starship fame) for a final tip _ Crystal Star _ only weeks before he died five years ago. “Bill told me this horse (Crystal Star) was the best of the yearlings he had. He said Crystal Star and Rocket Star, would be real good,” Jim said. “Thats why I bought Crystal Star at the sales. I was going for Rocket Star first, but when I realised my sister’s grandson was putting his hand up, I wouldn’t bid against …
Mark wins NZ Derby double
MARK ACHIEVES RARE NZ DERBY DOUBLE Mark Jones completed a rare NZ Trotting and Pacing Derby double in the same season in 2010. He became only the 6th driver to win both blue riband events at Addington in the same term, but only the 4th indvidual driver to achieve the feat. Former maestro Maurice Holmes won both NZ Derbys three times _ 1946 (Acclamation & Free Flight), 1957 (Alight & Tobacco Road) & 1960 (Winterlight & Student Prince). The only others to have won the coveted double are Jack Litten in 1955 (Regal Mile & False Step), and Mark Purdon …
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MARK/LAVROS TOO GOOD
Overport trainer Mark Jones edged one win behind former boss Cran Dalgety on this season’s trainers premiership when Master Lavros scored first-up at Addington on Friday, October 4.
Mark racked up his 13th win for the season, with Cran Dalgety going winless on the night, remaining on 14 wins.
Master Lavros, a warm $2 favourite for the 5-win and faster Coca-Cola Amatil Handicap Trot at Addington, had a perfect lead-up hit out for next Friday’s Group Three $25,000 Dr Cliff Irvine Memorial Canterbury Park Trotting Cup (2600m).
He had pleased Mark with winning both a Rangiora trial and a Methven workout
in this preparation.
The big Sundon gelding stepped straight to the front and was always in control for Mark, coming clear by 2 1/2 lengths to beat trailer Live The Dream and later closer Escapee.
The Kypros Kotzikas-owned Master Lavros stepped lively over the 2600m (stand) in 3:18.9, hitting out boldly over his last mile in 1:59.5 and quickening over his last 800m in 57s and final 400m in 27.9s.
Master Lavros, now five, took his career record to nine wins and three placings from only 17 starts, for $82,859 in stakes.
Stablemate debutante Ultimate CC (3f Christian Cullen-T K Swift) also shaped well in the night’s opener, the Air NZ Mobile Pace, unwinding well late for second to front-running winner Bay Emerald.
Turning for home, Bay Emerald was off and gone with Ultimate CC, locked up three back on the markers from an inside second row draw, doing well to get within a head of the winner.
Bay Emerald rated 2:00.3 for the mobile 1950m, picking up the pace over her last 800m in 56.8s and final 400m in 28.5s.
KIMBERLY SALUTES
To be a successful harness driver, you need to be able to sum up a race and make things happen.
Kimberly Butt did just that at her sixth racedrive at Forbury Park on Thursday, October 3, 2013.
Courtesy of a plum drive behind Saveapatrol, a rising star for employer Mark Jones, in the Dunedin City Ford Junior Drivers Mobile Pace, Kimberly didn’t panic when beaten out of the gate on the raging $1.20 favourite.
She had to be confident the Grant Hatton-owned Christian Cullen gelding would have a class edge on her rivals and the promising 4YO was up to the task.
After taking control with 1100m remaining, it was a case of being too big, too strong. She celebrated the occasion with a victory salute on the line.
Saveapatrol was inclined to knock off a touch near the finish but the winning result was a comfortable 2 1/4 lengths margin over Rock Of Tara.
The pacer was first-up since an unplaced run in the NZ Derby at Addington on April 5, but showed his superiority, rating 1:59.7 for the mobile 2200m _ the last 800m in 59.8s and closing 400m in 30s.
Kimberly, 19, daughter of leading Group One reinsman Anthony, and Karen Butt (daughter of former Chertsey/Ashburton trainer Dick Prendergast), has the pedigree of a winner.
Her brother Chris has been successful as both a driver and now a trainer in West Australia, while her uncle Tim has trained the winners of most of the elite races in Australasia.
Kimberly’s late grand-father Murray Butt (son of the late multiple premierships winner Wes), was also a successful trainer-driver, as was Murray’s brother Robin, father of Woodend co-trainer-driver David Butt.
Jenny Butt, Kimberly’s grandmother, is a daughter of the legendary trainer-driver Derek Jones, while Jenny’s brother Peter Jones, a former top junior and winner of two New Zealand Cups, is the father of former record-breaking junior and world driving champion Mark Jones.
Kimberly joined Mark’s Overport Lodge team in June after transferring from Mark Purdon’s Allstars stable at Rolleston.