Category Archive

DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS BRILLIANT IN WINTON CUP The sensational NZ 3YO fillies record run over 2400m (stand start) of 2:55.5 by Delightful Memphis in the Winton Business Cup on Sunday, April 9, is unlikely to be challenged for some time. Despite improving track conditions throughout NZ, the time was a good reflection and a deserved momento for a high class unlucky to be born in the same year as dominant All Stars filly, Spanish Armada. She smashed the former mark of 2:59.9 set by Talkerup at Ashburton on Boxing Day, 2015. Nothing could detract from the performance of the Overport Lodge-trained …

EYRE I COME FURTHERS RISE WITH GROUP ONE WIN Eyre I Come furthered his rise among the top trotters in New Zealand and provided co-owner Grant Hatton with a notable first in the $80,000 Fred Shaw Memorial NZ Trotting Championship at Addington on Friday, March 7. “It was great for Grant (Hatton) and Merv and Meg Butterworth (co-owners),  especially Grant, as it was his first Group One and with a horse he always believed in,” said trainer Mark Jones. It was a challenging night of mixed emotions for the Overport Lodge trainer. He reined stablemate Master Lavros to a game …

MASTER LAVROS GALLANT IN RACETRACK FINALE It was the finale no one wanted for champion squaregaiter and two-time Dominion Handicap winner Master Lavros. But an inflamed suspensory in his “good leg” afer trying to hold Eyre I Come in the NZ Trotting Championship at Addington on Friday night (April 7, 2017) ended the race career of the trotting giant. “He’s an amazing horse. He tried right to the end and showed what a champion is is,” said trainer Mark Jones. Master Lavros, given time to settle in midfield early in the Trotting Championship, was on the move to take up …

MASTER LAVROS RETURNS WITH ADDINGTON TRIAL Top trotter Master Lavros returned to the Addington trials on Monday, March 27, looking bold again after a brief freshen up. The giant-sized Sundon gelding stepped safely off the 20m line for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, trailing the four horse field until Mark sent him to the top with 1500m to run. From there, he was enjoying his work in the easy conditions and drizzly rain. He held Royal Shine by two and three quarter lengths, with Kowhai Whiz and early leader Over The Love, chasing home the first two at the end …

DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS RUNS 2ND FASTEST NZ FILLY MILE Class filly Delightful Memphis warmed up for the autumn classics with a brilliant track record 1:51.9 mile win at the Wairio Trotting Club’s meeting at Winton on Saturday, March 25. The Overport Lodge-trained daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Memphis Melody became NZ’s second fastest 3YO pacing filly. Her time was only the second occasion 1:52 had been bettered by a filly, with The Orange Agent holding the NZ fillies mark at 1:51.1, set in the 2015 Harness Jewels Diamond at Ashburton. However, Delightful Memphis shattered the Southland fillies mark of 1:53.9, set …

CASTLEREAGH BECOMES THIRD 2YO WINNER FOR LADY BOO KAY Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has a 100 percent winning strike rate with the 2YO progeny of Lady Boo Kay after Castlereagh won impressively at his third race start at Addington on Friday, March 24. Mark earlier produced half-brother Beau Brummell to win in NZ record time over the mobile 2000m of 2:34.4 at Timaru in 2011 as a juvenile trotter, while half-sister Arannalea won twice at two under similar ownership. “Castlereagh is a nice trotter in the making and didn’t have a lot of luck in his first two starts,” …

STEVEN REID NOT JOINING MENANGLE OVERPORT STABLE Successful Pukekohe trainer Steven Reid has decided against joining the Overport Lodge stable operation being set up at Menangle. “Steven unfortunately said no but I respect his decision,” said Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones. “However, the door is always open for him or the right person to go into partnership with me over there,” Mark said. Meanwhile, the stable’s former Auckland Cup placegetter Saveapatrol made a return to the Rangiora workouts on Wednesday. He tailed the field but wasn’t asked for anything serious. “Everything seems all good with him. It was a very quiet …

WHITTAKER’S NORTHERN DERBY TILT ABORTED Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones ruled out a Northern Derby start for promising pacer Whittaker after his lead-up run at Auckland two weeks ago. “He was not happy the Auckland way so I’ve brought him home and hope to have him right for NZ Derby back here (at Addington),” Mark said. Whittaker, impressive in both Southland starts in late January-early February, copped the outside front row draw in a $30,000 3YO pace at Auckland on February 24 and ran on late wide out for fourth. He finished the race off solidly but couldn’t pick up …

ARANNALEA TO DO HER FUTURE RACING IN MELBOURNE Arannalea, a runaway 12 1/4 lengths winner for the Mark Jones stable at Wyndham on Saturday, March 4, was sold this week to Victorian interests. She has been withdrawn from the Northern Southland Trotting Club’s meeting at Invercargill on Saturday. The 4YO Pegasus Spur-Lady Boo Kay mare again showed her rivals a clean pair of heels when proving superior at Wyndham. In the hands of Blair Orange, she stepped well after a false start off the 30m line in a C0-1 trot, trailing early leader Pegasus Hanover then zipped clear with 950m …