MASTER LAVROS TO BE TREATED FOR ‘WEAR AND TEAR’ A skeletal scinitgraphy bone scan test has revealed some general joint issues could be affecting last season’s Trotter of the Year, Master Lavros. Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones sent the giant Sundon gelding to Matamata to undergo the scinitraphy test after Master Lavros mixed his gait in his early racing this season. The test, which results in the production of two-dimensional images after the internal administration of a radiopharmaceutical dye imaging agent, found signs of general wear and tear in his front joints and stifles. “The report said to just carry …
Astrapi trots and delivers Timaru win
ASTRAPI DELIVERS AT TIMARU FOR TRAINER Astrapi isn’t the type you’d want to play cards with but he behaved himself for boss Mark Jones at the Timaru meeting on Saturday, November 22. Mark stepped him safely from the inside of the back row to be soon trailing three back, but his chances didn’t look good after being held up by the tiring Final Secret at the 400m. The former world champion driver manouevred him off the markers and gradually let the enigmatic squaregaiter gather top speed in the run home . Mark didn’t risk releasing Astrapi’s removeable deafeners. Astrapi, the …
Hellavahanover for Sydney
HELLAVAHANOVER TO TRY HER LUCK IN NSW Hellavahanover, withdrawn from the Timaru meeting on Saturday, is leaving the Mark Jones stable to do her future racing in New South Wales. The 4YO Brylin Boyz mare is being sent to Sydney trainer Joe Rando after being pulled up for the second consecutive time with suspect stand start manners at Addington on Show day. The Rando stable has had success with close relative Romper’s Monarchy (5m Monarchy-Amandas Gem), who has won four from 20 starts and scored back-to-back Tabcorp Park, Menangle, wins last month. Hellavahanover did step off the unruly off 20m …
Dye exploratory test for Master Lavros
MASTER LAVROS GOING NORTH FOR EXPLORATORY TEST Top squaregaiter Master Lavros will be sent to Matamata for further extensive tests after mixing his gait in the Dominion Handicap at Addington on Friday. Last year’s Dominion winner and the reigning Trotter of the Year hasn’t been 100 percent this spring. Despite the efforts of trainer Mark Jones to turn him round for Show day, the huge Sundon gelding gave further evidence of a hidden issue troubling him. “We’ll send him to Matamata and get them to run the dye through him,” Mark said. “We’re getting nothing the way we’re going so …
Eyre I Come takes step up
EYRE I COME LIKELY TO BACK UP FRIDAY Promising squaregaiter Eyre I Come is likely to try for a Cup week double on Show day. Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones says he plans to race him again on Friday providing the 4YO Majestic Son gelding eats up over the next two days. Eyre I Come got favourite punters away to a flyer in the opener on NZ Cup day, Tuesday, November 11. The $2.80 favourite stepped slowly but safely in the C2 and faster $20,400 Garrards Horse & Hound Handicap Trot over 3200m. Eyre I Come, a close relative of …
ASHBURTON TC, Thursday, November 13
ASHBURTON TC, Thursday, November 13 Race 5: CHAMPAGNE DREAMS (5, Blair Orange), & MARITIME ARDEN (9, Michelle Neilson), mob. 1609m: “Champagne Dreams is a nice filly. She’s in a super strong field but an each-way chance.” “Maritime Arden was good last at her last start but faces a tough ask drawn wide, also in that super strong field.” Race 8: FAIR DINKUM BROMAC (14, Blair Orange), mob. 2400m: “Is having no luck but can upset if they go hard.” Race 10: ASTRAPI (10, Kimberly Butt), 2400m std: “He’s a headache and take on trust.”
Addington Show Day entry could be free ?
FREE ENTRY SHOW DAY IF ‘TERROR’ WINS 4TH CUP Monday November 10 If champion pacer Terror To Love wins his fourth Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup at Addington he’ll write his name in the history books by becoming the only standardbred ever to accomplish the feat. What an achievement that would be !. If this happens, Addington will open the gates to all and provide FREE ENTRY on Show Day, Friday, November 14. Show Day features the running of the Hellers Dominion and the Woodlands Free For All. For those patrons that have pre-purchased Show Day tickets a refund will …
Mark & buddies gain premier gallops win
MARK CO-OWNER OF RICCARTON WINNER Overport trainer Mark Jones not only featured with a winning training treble at Forbury on Friday, November 9, but picked up a win as a co-owner at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s NZ Cup meeting at Riccarton on Saturday. Mark is one of 10 in the ownership of the grey Align mare, including trainer Lisa Latta, and fellow harness racing buddies, Andrew Stuart, Craig Thornley and Regan Todd. Snow Line was recording her fifth win from 32 starts, in the $30,000 Ratings 75 1100m race, taking her earnings to $59,885 with the metropolitan victory. The previous …
Master Lavros back to work after two days off
MASTER LAVROS IN RACE AGAINST TIME FOR DOMINION Master Lavros, last year’s Dominion Handicap winner and Trotter of the Year, had two days out in the paddock to get a mixed run at Kaikoura on Monday. Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones and Woodend-based right-hand man Regan Todd are doing their best to get the top trotter where he needs to be next Friday, but time is against them. “He’s just got a few little issues. He would get away with it pacing in his hopples but he’s a trotter and when he broke the other day he made a mess …
Final NZ Cup rankings
FINAL CUP RANKINGS, FIELD DRAWN WED. OCT 5 The final field for the 2014 edition of the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup has been found, subject to final withdrawals on Wednesday, October 5. The official last round of rankings has Pass Them By in the final 15th spot in the order of entry _ surpassing Pemberton Shard who will fill the first emergency spot. However, Pemberton Shard, the half-sister to Smiling Shard, could still make the field. Champion trainer Mark Purdon, who co-trains with his partner Natalie Rasmussen, said he would recommend to the owners of last year’s Cup …