ADDINGTON STAKES INCREASE After another satisfying financial performance in the 2015-2016 harness racing season, Addington is pleased to announce that total stakes and bonuses are set to rise over $400,000 for the upcoming 2016-2017 season to $8.1 million. New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club Chair Barry Dent comments: “A cornerstone of our current business model is to ensure regular and sustainable increases in returns to stakeholders are made whenever possible and with the last financial year being another good one for the Club we are pleased to be able to again reaffirm this approach for the upcoming 2016-2017 racing season.” He …
Whittaker out for three weeks
PROMISING WHITTAKER SPELLING FOR THREE WEEKS Whittaker, a bold runner-up to Pacing Major in the Australasian Breeders Crown 2YO Heat at Addington last week, has been turned out for three weeks. Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones would have raced him again this week in his final week as 2YO but there was no suitable race for him, despite two days of racing at Addington. Some consideration was given to continuing with a Breeders Crown tilt next month, but Gold Coast owner Greg Brodie preferred the option of targeting Sires Stakes racing with him in the spring. “I’m not a fan …
NZ METRO TC, July 29-31
NZ METRO TC, Friday, July 29 Race 5: KOWHAI MONARCH (9, Samantha Ottley), UR 1, 20m, 2600m std: “Just not trotting as good as he should be but if he does things right is a strong each way hope.” NZ METRO TC, Friday, July 31 Race 4: ZENA MAC (7, Wayne Higgs) & PERISSA (9, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1950m: “Zena Mac has been a bit disappointing but can place in this.” “Perissa finds a good race. She will go forward to lead and be a winning chance.” Race 5: SANDOVAL (1, Mark) & CROFT BAY (2, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1950m: “Sandoval has …
Sam achieves 200 wins milestone with Whittaker
SAM HITS 200 CAREER WINS BEHIND IMPRESSIVE DEBUTANTE Overport Lodge driver Sam Ottley achieved her 200th career-win milestone with another gem of a drive, this time behind exciting newcomer Whittaker at Addington on Friday, July 15, 2016. She brought up her 199th win the previous night when when fellow Overport Lodge pacer, Itz Risky Business, notched his second win there within a week. Sam, six week after her career highlight win behind Rocker Band in the Group One $150,000 Harness Jewels 4YO Diamond at Cambridge, began a new chapter wearing owner Greg Brodie’s famous colours behind Whittaker. The promising rising …
New horse has name change for race debut
NEW ADDITION WHITTAKER STARTS ON FRIDAY Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has a new horse for Gold Coast owner Greg Brodie kicking off his career at Addington on Friday night. Whittaker, an impressive winning 2YO trial qualifier in 1:58.3 (1609m) over Rapid Flight at Ashburton on May 17 for Templeton trainer Leonne Jones, changed hands after winning again in a Rangiora workout on June 22. Driven by Sam Ottley in the workout in 2:33.5 (2000m), Whittaker again stood the leaders up a big start at the 400m but unwound in style to win going away over the leaders last 800m in …
First win for breeder-owners; Sam nears 200
FIRST WIN FOR BREEDER-OWNERS; SAM NEARS 200 Justine McMeeking, daughter of successful Kirwee owners Bob and Norma McMeeking, and Justine’s partner Kurt McNamara, were on track to see a horse they bred and own record their first win at Forbury on Thursday, July 7, 2016. A five-year process was fulfilled when Itz Risky Business, a younger brother to $100k-plus winner Itz Bettor To Win (1:54.3), won at his fourth start from the Overport Lodge stable of Mark Jones. Their interest in breeding Itz Risky Business came over drinks after moving in with the senior McMeekings at Kirwee five years ago, after …
Aymar bred to extend further
AYMAR REWARDED AT AUCKLAND; RETURNING TO CANTY Aymar, rewarded with a $11,700 maiden win at Auckland on Friday, July 1 for the Mark Jones stable, will return to Canterbury for her future racing. “It was great to get a win with her there. It was a very successful trip as she won nearly $17k up there and if she raced in Canterbury would have been lucky to win $8k!,” Mark said. “She will come home and have a run or two before the end of the season and then go for a well deserved spell.” The 3YO Real Desire-Chloe Bromac …
Addington $70,000 Alabar Super Series next month
DETAILS OF ADDINGTON $70,000 ALABAR SUPER SERIES July 4, 2016 A projected total of $70,000 in stakes is available at the NZMTC race meeting held at Addington on Friday, August 5 for the 12th Alabar Super Series for lower grade pacers & trotters. The three races on the August 5 provide the following opportunities for: C0 pacers prior to racing on May 15, 2016 – Stake $23,500; C1 to C2 pacers prior to racing on May 15, 2016 – Stake $23,500; C0 to C2 trotters prior to racing on May 15, 2016 – Stake $23,500. ALL STARTERS in these races …
David Aiken takes Len Smith quinella
HECTORJAYJAY UPSETS STABLEMATE LENNYTHESHARK IN MILE Master trainer David Aiken pulled off the ultimate big-race success when he trained the quinella in Sunday’s $A100,000 TABCORP.COM.AU Len Smith Mile at Tabcorp Park Menangle (June 26, 2016). The only problem was it wasn’t quite the way punters expected it to go. Aiken’s up and comer Hectorjayjay ($10.10), finished like a train to swamp odds-on favourite Lennytheshark ($1.40 favourite) by 1.2m, with Ohoka Punter ($7) a fighting third 7.1m further way. The winner rated a slashing 1:50.5, confirming the huge wraps that Aiken had placed on the five-year-old gelding, who is now bound …
Ex-Overport pacer upsets in G3 Wondai’s Mate Pace
GLENFERRIE HOOD UPSETS IN GROUP THREE AT ALBION PARK Glenferrie Hood, sold out of the Overport Lodge stable of Mark Jones after qualifying at Ashburton as a 2YO in March 2012, scored an upset win in the $A30,000 Wondai’s Mate Pace at Albion Park, Brisbane, on Saturday, June 25. Now six, the Christian Cullen gelding was racking up his 21st win in Australia, taking his earnings over $A200,000. He had raced earlier in West Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, before transferring to the Queensland stables of Vicky Rasmussen last month. Having his his fourth start in Queensland, he was …