Category Archive

LAURA McKAY WINS AT HER THIRD RACEDRIVE Laura McKay, a jockey-sized grand-daughter of major harness racing owners, Clive and Rona McKay, left the Rangiora meeting on Thursday, November 4, with her first winner at only her third racedrive. Employer Mark Jones put Laura, nick-named “peanut”, on five-win trot mare Kowhai Whiz in the Crackerjack Mobile Trot and she produced a “crackerjack” drive behind the big Now Another Look gelding. Kowhai Whiz, transferred from the Terry and Glenys Chmiel stable to the Overport Lodge team and first-up for seven months, was eased early from the outside front row draw, coming from …

CORZIN TERROR TO BE DRIVEN FOR LUCK IN NZ CUP Overport Lodge driver Mark Jones gave visiting Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup contender Corzin Terror a good hit-out in front in the Cup Trial at Addington on Wednesday, November 4, but will drive him for luck next Tuesday. Corzin Terror, trained in Victoria by Dean Braun, was outfinished by Sky Major (one-one), Ohoka Punter (parked) and No Doctor Needed (trail) over the closing stages of the trial. Winner Sky Major disposed Smolda as the NZ Cup favourite after the trial with the NZ TAB shortening him to $3.20, with Smolda …

KING DENNY TO RETURN NEXT YEAR Former top age group squaregaiter King Denny, a newcomer to Overport Lodge stable of Mark Jones last month, won’t step out until the autumn. The 5YO squaregaiter is to have a two month spell at the Invercargill property of Diane Cournane. “We’ll give him time out and start fresh,” Mark said of the Butterworth Racing Syndicate-owned trotter. King Denny, a two-time Harness Jewels winner at three and four, has raced only 25 times for 10 wins, four seconds, and $258,794 in stakes. He won the 4YO Jewels on May 30 in a career best …

MARK JONES DRIVING CORZIN TERROR IN NZ CUP Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones is to drive visiting former Kiwi, Corzin Terror, for Victorian trainer Dean Braun, in next Tuesday’s $750,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup. Corzin Terror, sold out of the Colin and Julie De Filiippi stable after winning five from 27 NZ starts, has continued to make his mark across the Tasman, taking a 1:52.2 mile mark. The 8YO Western Terror-Corzanello gelding is now the winner of 19 races from 72 lifetime starts for the equivalent of $NZ394,948 in stakes. He won the Group 1 Ballarat Cup last December …

DYNAMIC PARTY DELIVERS FIRST-UP AT KAIKOURA Dynamic Party, good enough to run sixth in Franco Nelson’s 2014 Harness Jewels 4YO Emerald for former trainers Terry and Glenys Chmiel, notched his first win for 17 months at Kaikoura on Monday, November 2. First-up since joining the Burham arm of the Mark Jones stable, the 6YO Bettor’s Delight gelding changed stables after failing to salute in his 5YO season. Co-owners John and Jill Hartnell, also have five-win trot gelding Kowhai Whiz with Mark Jones, while he also won three races with his half-sister Kowhai Sunrise. The “Kowhai” horses race in John Hartnells …

ICE CRUSHER UNTROUBLED TO WIN IN SOUTH Promising Overport Lodge 3YO Ice Crusher began his quest for possible $40,000 Southern Supremacy honours on April 17 with the easiest of maiden wins as at Invercargill on Sunday, December 1. The hot $1.50 favourite circled wide for Blair Orange from the back row as some inside him scrambled early in the Ryder Plumbling Ltd Mobile Pace at the Riverton Trotting Club’s meeting. After landing up in the open, Blair made a play for the lead with around 1100m to run and was always travelling like the winner. He cruised to the wire …

LOUIE FINN PUTS STABLE INTO DOUBLE FIGURES THIS SEASON Louie Finn’s win in the C1 Phil Burrows Owns A Chevron Quality Car Pace at Addington on Friday, October 30, brought up the 10th seasonal win for the Mark Jones stable. Louie Finn wouldn’t be denied after driver Blair Orange found a perfect one-one sit for the Grinfromeartoear gelding two races earlier. The 4YO rallied best to hold Romanite and Franco Sanchez, with pacemaking favourite Media Queen, being swamped to finish fourth. Louie Finn, recording his second win in six starts this season, is co-raced by Peter George, Grant Smith and …

NORTHERN VELOCITY PREPARES FOR SIRES HEAT Northern Velocity, winner of the Listed $146,250 2YO PGG Wrightson Yearling Sales 2YO Fillies Pace at Addington on May 15 for former trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, is set to resume racing next week for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones. The half-sister by Mach Three to former NZ FFA winner Pembrook Benny (1:53.6) was purchased out of the Allstars Stable by Australian interests  late last term and switched stables. She resumed with an unplaced run at the Methven workouts on October 10 then had her second workout in her 3YO preparation at the …

SAMANTHA OTTLEY TO RECOVER FROM RACE SKIRMISH Overport Lodge foreperson and successful reinswoman Samantha Ottley won’t return until December at the earliest after her luckless racefall at Methven on Sunday, October 18. She has told boss Mark Jones that she will be sidelined for at least six weeks to allow a  chip to her vertebrae to mend. “Its a shame as we have a few coming up to race but that is the least issue,” Mark said. “Her well being is the most important thing and it is great news she will make a full recovery.” Sam was simply in …

PERISSA KEEPS SURPRISING WITH 54.3s FINAL 800m Overport Lodge mare Perissa caused mild surprise by pacing the fastest official final 800m for a mare at Addington with her 54.3s to win the junior drivers pace on Friday, October 16. Even Australasia’s fastest mare and last year’s NZ Cup winner Adore Me (1:47.7, Menangle mile) only recorded one Addington win with leaders last 800m in better than 55s with a 54.9s to win a C5 & faster pace at Addington on April 11, 2014. Border Control, now a 6YO gelding and NZ’s fastest racewinning miler, holds the distinction of winning the …