Category Archive

SAM OTTLEY _ BURNHAM FOREPERSON AND STABLE DRIVER Sam Ottley, the first female junior reinswoman to drive 100 winners in NZ and a former junior premiership winner, joined the Overport Lodge stable of Mark Jones last week. “She is a big asset to the stable with her experience and driving ability,” Mark said, “It’s important she gets back to the trials/workouts and back freelance driving alot as she is wasted sitting in the stand,” he said. To this end, she will drive stable runner Louie Finn at Methven on Sunday. Sam Ottley was NZ’s top junior in 2014 in her …

FRANCO LEDGER OUT OF NZ CUP, KYVALLEY BLUR OUT OF DOMINION Wednesday, October 14, 2015 A few withdrawals and some subtle rankings changes are starting to slowly clear the picture heading towards the springs features for our best pacers and trotters. In the last week the NZ Cup has lost Dalton Bromac, Jivin Cullen, Easy On The Eye and Franco Ledger. The Dominion has lost Kyvalley Blur, Used To Me, Royal Aspirations and Escapee. Within the rankings themselves last week’s racing saw some make their way up the respective tables. The Canterbury Classic and its NZ Cup-start-guarantee means Christen Me, …

MASTER LAVROS UNTROUBLED TO WIN SECOND CUP Top squaregaiter Master Lavros again pleased his connections by doing everything right at the start to win a second Group Three $25,000 Yaldhurst Hotel Canterbury Park Trotting Cup at Addington on Friday, October 9. Overport Lodge Woodend foreman Regan Todd took the trek down to the start to get a first hand look at the giant trotter when the tapes were released with the boss Mark Jones stepping Master Lavros perfectly from the inside of the 20m line. Mark had the favourite out of early trouble switching him out wide and into the …

ASTRAPI SOLD, WITHDRAWN FROM RANGIORA Astrapi is to be withdrawn from the Rangiora Harness Racing Club’s meeting after being sold out of the Mark Jones stable during the week. The 6YO younger brother to former Interdominion winner Delft (Sundon-Miriam) won four and picked up six placings for $27,201 for breeder and former owner, Kypros Kotzikas. He won his debut at Nelson in January 2013 when initially prepared by Tim Butt, however three starts later he was transferred to Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones after his form tapered. Astrapi mixed his gait fresh and was pulled up when resuming at Timaru …

LEANNE’S BOY ONLY IMPROVER IN LATEST DOMINION RANKINGS The only change in the rankings for the $250,000 Hellers Dominion on Friday, November 13,  is an improvement of three spots by Leanne’s Boy, from 30 to 27. The newcomer to the Barry Purdon stable was successful first-up last week at Auckland. Lastest Dominion Handicap rankings are: 1 Stent, 2 Sheemon, 3 Master Lavros, 4 Used To Me, 5 Kincaslough 6 Alley Way, 7 Vincennes, 8 One Over Da Moon, 9 Jag’s Invasion, 10 King Denny, 11 Habibti, 12 Daryl Boko, 13 Prime Power, 14 Kyvalley Blur, 15 Realmein Outside the cut-line: …

NZMTC RETURN PROFIT AFTER DEPRECIATION October 6, 2015 The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc. (NZMTC) has announced its annual result for the year ended July 31, 2015, in which it recorded an operating surplus of $274,371 after allowing for depreciation of $945,808. NZMTC Chairman Barry Dent said “this is our fifth consecutive annual operating surplus which assists the Club in building a sustainable financial environment for the benefit of all industry stakeholders.” This result was achieved whilst increasing returns to stakeholders by 9.5% during the 201415 season with $7.55 million paid out in stakes and incentives. Further notable developments …

CRAIG FERGUSON & FAIR DINKUM BROMAC DELIVER AT TIMARU Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones was pleased to credit part-time winter stable employee Craig Ferguson with a win behind Fair Dinkum Bromac in the junior drivers race at Timaru on Sunday, October 5. “It was good for Craig to win on one of mine as he’s been a great help over the years,” Mark said. Craig Ferguson gained the Fair Dinkum Bromac drive as Kimberly Butt was competing in Australia in an invited drivers series last week, and he had to put in the hard yards up and down State Highway …

ITZ BILLY HILLIS SOLD TO MELBOURNE INTERESTS Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has sold promising 3YO qualifier Itz Billy Hillis to Melbourne interests. The Bettor’s Delight colt is closely-rated to three time Group One-winning Australian filly Itz Nosurprisesthere, and last season’s smart 3YO Itz Bettor To Win, other recent notables bearing the “Itz” prefix, bred by Bob and Norma McMeeking. “We got good money for him and it is too hard to earn in New Zealand,” Mark said. Itz Billy Hillis qualified in front on a slushy track over 2600m at Rangiora on September 23, holding by 2 1/2 lengths …

MINIMUM STAKE INCREASE AT THE MET September 30, 2015 The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club is delighted to announce an increase in its minimum stake level to $7500 effective from November 1. Club Chairman Barry Dent commented “Due to a solid 2014-15 financial performance and a strong start to this season, the Club was eager to continue to increase returns to stakeholders who choose to support us.” “The substantial increases in stakes and bonuses in recent years at the Raceway have been funded entirely from non-racing revenue and in particular from the success enjoyed by the Club’s Events Centre and …

WITHDRAWALS HAVE ELEVATED OTHERS FOR DOMINION HANDICAP The withdrawals of Clover Don, Maori Time, Sol Invictus and Waterloo Sunset, have improve the position of many in the latest rankings for the Dominion Handicap at Addington in November. Those to make more definitive moves included; Kyvalley Blur who placed second to Maori Time in a recent Melton FFA;  while Valmagne and Quite A Moment jumped six and four spots respectively for their Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup placings. Overanova who continues to be the outstanding trotter in Queensland improved slightly. Back-to-back wins edging him ahead of Springbank Sam and Royal Aspirations who …