THE BUS COULD CONTEST YOUNG GUNS HEATS IN DECEMBER Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones is considering a Young Guns 2YO campaign in Auckland next month for appropriately-named juvenile, The Bus, following his win at the Addington trials on Wednesday, November 2. The Bus, the nickname of Hurricanes and All Black rugby winger Julian Savea, is a half-brother to the well-performed Overport Lodge pacer Saveapatrol (11 wins from 18 starts for $145,618). Both horses are owned by successful stable client Grant Hatton. Saveapatrol, a former Auckland Cup placegetter, is a gelded son of Christian Cullen, while The Bus is a well-proportioned …
Delightful Memphis jogs to Sires Heat win
DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS TO FRESHEN AFTER EASY SIRES HEAT WIN Delightful Memphis will have the luxury of seven-10 days off to freshen after winning the opening $22,000 Alabar Sires Stakes 3YO Fillies Heat in a jog at Addington on Friday, October 21. The smart daughter of champion sire Bettor’s Delight and Memphis Melody will be back for the third heat at Addington on November 25, then head to Auckland to fine tune for the final on December 31. There is also another heat of the series at Alexandra Park on December 9. Last season’s experience of racing well right-handed at Auckland …
Overport Lodge moves to 10 wins for season
KOWHAI WHIZ BRINGS UP 10TH SEASONAL WIN FOR STABLE Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has hit double training figure wins for the new term after Kowhai Whiz took out the C2-6 Fergus Matheson Memorial Trot at Forbury on Thursday, October 20. Mark moved to 10 wins from 51 starters for the term and outright fourth on this season’s trainers premiership. Stable driver Sam Ottley is now fifth on the drivers premiership, after moving to 11 wins for the season, with a near perfect steer behind Kowhai Whiz. Even though they were off 40m, Sam found a sweet one out trail …
Ariadne Lavra builds towards Southland Oaks
GORE WINNER ARIADNE LAVRA EARNS SOUTHLAND OAKS POINTS Ariadne Lavra, untroubled to justify her warm favouritism with a 4 3/4 lengths maiden win at Gore on Sunday, October 16, has made a good early start to qualify for the $45,000 Southland Oaks on April 30. Horses must start in at least two race in southern races to be eligible for the Oaks. “We took her down there to earn money for Southland Oaks qualifying. All going well, we will head back for the Riverton meeting there in two weeks with her,” said Burnham trainer Mark Jones. “After Riverton, we will …
Croft Bay, Amissaduqa, Styx Vixen, leave for Australia
CROFT BAY, AMISSADUQA, STYX VIXEN, LEAVE FOR AUSTRALIA Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones sold three of the race team to Australian interests late last month including useful performer Croft Bay, winner of five from only 19 starts for $27,472. “He did a good job here and hopefully he can race on good over there like his half-brothers, Montana Falcon and McPocket,” Mark said. Montana Falcon, a 1:53.2 son of Falcon Seelster, has won $167,719 from 25 wins and 29 placings in 114 starts, while McPocket, a 1:53.3 gelding by McArdle, has also made his mark in Australia. After winning once …
Addington commended at International Awards
ADDINGTON COMMENDED AT INTERNATIONAL AWARDS Addington Raceway and the New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) have further enhanced the growing international reputation of the quality of New Zealand’s racing product with a close-up finish, in esteemed company, for the Simulcast Award presented at the 24th annual International Simulcast Conference recently held in New Orleans. The Simulcast Award honours excellence in the presentation of a racetrack’s live race product. In announcing Santa Anita Park as this year’s winner, organisers have made special mention of the quality of the combined Addington Raceway/NZRB entry. “The winner had noteworthy competition in this very close race …
Miracle Mile goes back a week this season
DATE SWITCH BOOSTS MIRACLE MILE The best pacers in training will get their shot at two or more major victories following changes to dates and conditions for the 2017 Ainsworth Miracle Mile at Tabcorp Park @ Club Menangle. Australia’s biggest harness racing sprint, the $750,000 Ainsworth Miracle Mile will now be run on Saturday, February 25 in Sydney. The club has moved their feature race back a week so that Grand Circuit campaigners can contest the Victoria Cup on Saturday, January 28, 2017 or the Hunter Cup on February 4 (or both) and still be fresh enough to contest the …
Perissa’s new owners rewarded at Methven
PERISSA’S NEW OWNERS ENJOY FIRST-UP METHVEN SUCCESS Banks Peninsula Trotting Club administrators and friends, Maurice McDermott and Kerry Dellaca, were quickly rewarded for their investment in 7YO mare Perissa at Methven last Sunday, September 18. They put the disappointment of a late withdrawal when scheduled to have their first start for them at Addington 10 days earlier. Perissa suffered an untimely knock when arriving at Addington, ruling her out of that assigment, but she bounced back quickly to win first-up in their ownership at Methven. “Grass track racing really suits her when things go her way,” said Overport Lodge trainer …
Rocker Band heads north
ROCKER BAND HEADS NORTH FOR SPRING RACING Rocker Band heads north this week to Clevedon trainer Barry Purdon in search of more favourable opportunities through the spring. Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones is hopeful smaller field sizes at Alexandra Park will give Rocker Band a better chance of featuring in races such as the $20,000 Spring Cup (2200m stand) on Friday week (September 30) and $20,000 Holmes DG Pace (2700m stand) on October 14. Rocker Band, last season’s Harness Jewels 4YO Mares Diamond winner, battled away for seventh first-up for the new term in Franco Nelson’s Hannon Memorial at Oamaru …
Ex-stablemates win Vict. double
LOUIE FINN & FORTY THIEVES CONTINUE WITH WINS Former Overport Lodge pacers, Louie Finn and Forty Thieves, scored C1 & C0 final wins respectively at Shepparton last Friday. Louie Finn (5g Grinfromeartoear-Miss C S D), led from the one gate throughout the $5000 Major In Art Pace Final over 2190m. He rated 2:00.8 for the trip, running his last 800m in 57.9s to win by 13.7 metres. He has now won his last three Victorian starts. Meanwhile Forty Thieves (4g Christian Cullen-Harlem Franco) improved three wide outside the leaders from the eight gate in the $5000 C0 Shadyshark Hanover Pace …