Category Archive

MILLWOOD TILLY SHOWS SPEED IN QUALIFIER Overport Lodge filly Millwood Tilly, by three-time NZ Cup champion Terror To Love (1:51), and the first foal from eight-win mare Albuquerque (1:58.1), showed smart speed in her 1:57 (1609m) Ashburton qualifier on Tuesday. Driven by Sheree Tomlinson, she set a busy clip throughout the two-year-old fillies heat, only being caught late by close relative, the previously qualified Miss Ruby Sunshine. The Mark Smolenski-trained Miss Ruby Sunshine, who qualified at Rangiora on January 15, is by Sunshine Beach (1:47.4) from Albuquerque’s half-sister Miss Sunshine, the one-win McArdle dam of fast Menangle winner Mattgregor (1:50.6, …

SIOUX PRINCESS FROM FAMILY OF DOMINION HANDICAP WINNERS Sioux Princess may never win a Dominion Handicap but will be a valued broodmare later in life, being related to Dominion winners, Marcoola, Amaretto Sun and Lyell Creek. The lightly-raced Majestic Son mare brought up her second win from only six starts when taking out the 3000m Club Waimea Trot in a 2:06.3 mile rate at Nelson on Sunday. She maintained a strong finish wide out to win by a length from Unique Marshall and Shpeedy. “I have got her to race then breed from,” said trainer Mark Jones. “She will just …

DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS REPEATS AT BIG M Former star Overport Lodge filly/mare Delightfulmemphisn repeated her win of seven nights earlier at the Meadowlands, New Jersey, on Saturday, January 12 (NZ time). This time, the Bettor’s Delight-Memphis Melody mare overcame the outside 10 gate, settling fourth early, then powering home to win by three-quarters of a length, again in the hands of former NZ driver, Dexter Dunn. Now trained in New Jersey by Richard “Nifty” Norman, Delightfulmemphisn equalled her time of the previous week (from the nine gate) of 1:51.4 (10ths). The win came in the richest purse race of the night at …

BLUE BLOOD NAIYA FRANCO WINS SECOND-UP Richly-bred mare Naiya Franco was able to turn her form around second-up in the Morrisons Saddlery & Feed Mobile Pace at Oamaru on Tuesday, January 8. The daughter of Mach Three and top mare Nearea Franco (1:54.4, 11 wins & $441,361) made the most of a suitable race for her rating, and a positive drive from Samantha Ottley from the eight gate. Eased to second last, Sam had her on the move three wide from the 800m to be parked at the 600m. They were left in front when front-running Chief Kapai compounded before …

SOUTH QUARTET ALL WINNERS ON CIRCUIT The Mark Jones stable concluded a successful south-Central Otago circuit when Si Si Senor held stablemate Rockahula Joe in the wet at Cromwell on January 6. Si Si Senor completed a successful hour and a half for co-owners, Christchurch accountant Hamish Scott, and wife, Dr Kim Lawson, as the couple also won the day’s opener on the grass with hot favourite Team Kiwi, for the Robbie Holmes stable. Given every chance after leading early, then trailing, for Blair Orange, Si Si Senor unwound well to hold Rockahula Joe (handy outer) by three-quarters of a …

WHITTAKER WINS AT THE MEADOWLANDS Former Overport Lodge pacer Whittaker notched his first USA win at the Meadowlands, New Jersey, on Sunday, January 5 (NZ time). The Sportswriter-Anarchy entire, now racing for the Mitchell Mac Kenzie stable, settled fourth from the two date and finished best to win by half a length in 1:51.8 (10ths) for the mile. Driven by Eric Carlson, Whittaker finished off with a closing 400m in 27.4s to take out the $11,550 pace. Whittaker, named after former top Sydney-based sporting/racing writer, Bill Whittaker, was on-sold to North American interests last year. He won 10 of 32 …

DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS WINS AGAIN AT THE BIG M Classy former Overport Lodge mare Delightfulmemphisn returned to winning form at her first USA start of the year with a strong win at the Meadowlands, New Jersey, on Saturday (NZ time). Delightful Memphis, driven by North American-based Kiwi, Dexter Dunn, for trainer Richard “Nifty” Norman, equalled her North American best of 1:51.4 (10ths) for the mile. The Bettor’s Delight-Memphis Melody mare overcame the nine gate, settling sixth early, then improving to fourth turning for home. She lifted to win by half a head in a $17,500 fillies and mares pace. Delightful Memphis …

BARRETT CAUSES MINOR UPSET OVER ROXBURGH FAVOURITE Barrett, who caused a minor upset downing hot favourite Kendra at Roxburgh on Friday, January 4, is on the market back to his home country of Australia. The improving son of champion sire Bettor’s Delight is Vicbred and Breeders Crown eligible. He was initially purchased for NZ clients by trainer Mark Jones for owners Grant Hatton, Starmark Ltd and Stuart Gillan, at an Australia Pacing Gold Yearling Sale. “It was a good effort to come from where he did and beat a nice horse, so is definitely improving all the time,” Mark said. …

EARLY CHRISTMAS CRACKERS LET LOOSE AT WINTON The Overport Lodge stable of Mark Jones unleashed three early Christmas crackers at Winton on Saturday, December 22. They made the trek south worthwhile with three of the four starts saluting, taking the stable to 11 seasonal wins. Australasian Young Drivers champ Sheree Tomlinson hit the front on the NZ Junior Drivers Premiership when she combined with stable runner Michelle in the Ryal Bush Transport Ltd Trot. Sheree moved to 21 seasonal wins, one ahead of John Morrison, after combining with Michelle for her second win in her last three starts. Michelle, a …

ROCKER BAND LOWERS MILE BEST Well-performed racemare Rocker Band, completing the twilight of her race career in the New South Wales barn of Tim Butt, lowered her Menangle winning best to 1:51.8 when taking out the Ladyship Stakes at Menangle, on Tuesday, December 17. Her previous best was a 1:52.1 winning mile rate over 1720m at Melton in the Alabar Ladyship Cup in February, 2017. She had also won her previous start at Melton in a 1:52.3 rate over 1720m. The daughter of Rocknroll Hanover and NZ Cup-winning mare Mainland Banner led throughout on Tuesday in the hands of Chris …