IMMORTAL CHANGE STEP CLOSER TO MET MULTIPLIER BONUS Immortal Change, rewarded with a sit-sprint finish to win at Addington on Friday, September 7, has the aim of winning a $7000 Met Multiplier bonus for the Mark Jones stable. She’s had 10 starts at Addington since February, but this was her first win at Canterbury headquarters, after winning her maiden at Westport in March. The Multiplier is paid to any horse who has a minimum of 15 starts at Addington during a rolling 12-month period and has a win, or dead-heat, during the year. “I think Grant Smith (owner) paid only …
NZ Cup/Dominion rankings
NZ CUP/DOMINION HANDICAP RANKINGS First rankings for the two big features in New Zealand Cup were released by Harness Racing New Zealand this week. The $800,000 Christchurch Casino NZ Cup is to be run at Addington on November 13. A maximum of 15 horses can start in the Group One feature over 3200m. NZ CUP RANKINGS: Thefixer 1, Chicago Bull 2, Ultimate Machete 3, Tiger Tara 4, Dream About Me 5, Jack’s Legend 6, A G’s White Socks 7, Eamon Maguire 8, Cruz Bromac 9, Star Galleria 10, Captain Dolmio 11, Alta Orlando 12, Classie Brigade 13, No Doctor Needed …
Regan Todd wins Crown
NZ HARNESS NEWS, August 26, 2018 REGAN TODD THE TOAST OF MELTON Acclaimed young North Canterbury trainer Regan Todd recorded his first Group 1 success when Show Gait was victorious at the Australasian Breeders Crown in Melbourne on Saturday night. Todd combined with master horseman Mark Purdon for the win, the latter doing the driving. “Words can’t really explain it,” said Todd soon after the win. “I’m pretty bloody rapt. “I’m never a ‘confidence’ person heading in to races but she seemed spot-on after the way she had trialed at Shepparton last week and worked since. “It’s been awesome over …
Robyn’s Gem earmarked for broodmare role
ROBYN’S GEM EARMARKED FOR BROODMARE CAREER Robyn’s Gem, who showed her true ability to deliver at her sixth start at Oamaru on Sunday, August 19, will try and find more wins before becoming a full time mum. Now six, the daughter of 2008 New Zealand Cup winner Changeover has proven a bit of a handful scoring up with the field at times, but was on her best behaviour at Oamaru. Driver Sheree Tomlinson bided her time back on the inner as the leaders kept the pace strong in the Twizel Combined Services Fillies And Mares Mobile Pace. Angled out wide …
Izzy Dagg sold to Tim Butt stable
IZZY DAGG SOLD TO RACE IN NEW SOUTH WALES Impressive last-to-first Addington, August 3, maiden winner Izzy Dagg has been sold out of the Mark Jones team to join the Tim Butt stable at Menangle. “It’s sad to see him go as he was going to turn into a lovely horse,” Mark said. The three-year-old A Rocknroll Dance colt had shaped well in five NZ starts for a large group of owners, namely Auric Limited (Pete Summerfield manager), Paul Summerfield, Mark Calcott, Dave Hunt, Gary McCormick, the horse’s namesake Israel Dagg, and wife Daisy, Randell Townsend, Matthew Lowe and Tony …
Robbie Close has first start as trainer
NZ HARNESS NEWS, August 15, 2018 CLOSE BRANCHES OUT INTO TRAINING Successful young driver Robbie Close will begin a new phase of his career in the harness racing industry this weekend when he lines up his first runner as a trainer. The former Australasian Junior Drivers championship winner will take Majestic Mannequin to Sunday’s Kurow meeting and slip a set of his own colours on for the first time. And while he’s hopeful more than he is confident, Close said it was a good time to get involved in the training side of the industry with the current incentives being …
Some Excusesomewhere wins in Queensland
SOME EXCUSESOMEWHERE ALL THE WAY Former Overport Lodge pacer Some Excusesomewhere was an impressive all-the-way winner at his Australian debut on Tuesday, August 14. The Somebeachsomewhere-Sarah’s Excuse gelding showed good gate speed from the ace for driver Pete McMullen, in the Mr Feelgood @ Egmont Park Stud Pace at Albion Park, Brisbane. Some Excusesomewhere, now trained by Chantal Turpin, never looked like being headed. He free-wheeled in front and drew clear to win by 6.8 metres in a 1:54.7 rate for the 1660m, with fellow NZ-bred, (Our) Chittybangbang, leading the chase. Some Excusesomewhere, from the same maternal family as two-time …
Whittaker sold to USA interests; The Bus spelling
WHITTAKER SOLD TO USA INTERESTS Whittaker, a $100,000 winner for the Mark Jones stable, was sold this week to follow the path of Delightful Memphis and do his future racing in North America. The Sportswriter-Anarchy entire leaves New South Wales with a 1:52.9 winning mark (1609m) at Menangle. Now five to NZ and North American time, Whittaker left NZ in October 2017 a winner of four from 12 starts for $31,068. After transferring to Menangle, he extended his earnings to $105,158 and his career record to 32 starts for 10 wins and 10 placings for Gold Coast owner, Greg Brodie. …
Big night out for Overport Lodge
NZ HARNESS NEWS, August 4, 2018 BIG NIGHT OUT FOR OVERPORT LODGE STAFF AT ADDINGTON Mark Jones and Sam Ottley stole the show on the opening night of the harness racing season at Addington on Friday night, but it was also fitting that with a Super Rugby Final next door 24 hours later that there was a distinct rugby flavour to some of their success. Jones trained three winners on the programme, with Ottley chipping in with three driving wins during the night – the perfect way for our leading female driver to celebrate her birthday. Ottley has a bit of a …
Some Excusesomewere in Queensland
SOME EXCUSESOMEWHERE TO RACE IN SUNSHINE STATE Some Excusesomewhere, who raced strongly for the Mark Jones stable at Blenheim in June, has been sold to race for the Pete McMullen stable in Queensland. “He will race though the grades there, then come to Sydney,” Mark said of the pacer, who turned five to NZ time this week. Some Excusesomewhere, who firstly raced in the south for Clark Barron, raced only three times for the Overport Lodge team for a win, a second and a luckless first-up run at Oamaru when checked out of the race. He won second-up for the …