Category Archive

McDERMOTTS’ CASH IN ON MET MULTIPLIER Tuesday, October 4 Last Friday night (October 31) was a great night for local Canterbury trainer John McDermott and the team at Addington Raceway. John sent two quality mares to the post in Race 8 The Clarkson Signs – Building & Window Signage Mobile Pace and cashed in big time. Already, 7YO mare Supreme Gem and her owners Christine and John McDermott, and Pat and Fred Dowie were guaranteed a Met Multiplier bonus payment of $7500. Then added to this, stablemate Flyover an 8YO mare, won the race and in-turn qualified for the bonus …

EYRE I COME WRAPS LABOUR WEEKEND HAT-TRICK Impressive Ashburton Labour Day Monday trot winner Eyre I Come gained his first win for Melbourne owners Merv and Meg Butterworth, who joined co-owner Grant Hatton in the ownership in April. The grandson of former 1987 Rowe Cup and 1988 Dominion Handicap-winning mare Landora’s Pride (34 wins & $472,842) rounded out a hat-trick of wins on Sunday-Monday of Labour weekend for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, and in-form driver Blair Orange. Eyre I Come was first-up since breaking at despatch point and finishing unplaced in the Group One Northern Trotting Derby on May 9. The Majestic …

LOUIE FINN SMART ASHBURTON QUALIFIER Louie Finn, a 3YO gelding by Grinfromeartoear, repeated his recent workout win by leading up from the stand start in his Ashburton 2400m qualifier on Tuesday, October 21. In the hands of Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, Louie Finn maintained a strong run, holding by 1 1/2 lengths in 3:06 for the 2400m, quickening over his last 800m in 57.2s and final 400m in 27.3s. “He won easy. He’s a nice horse,” Mark said. Louie Finn, bred by Finnash Bloodstock, was an $11,000 buy at the 2013 NZ Premier Yearling Sales. He’s the first foal …

TUXEDO MAX TENACIOUS AT METHVEN Tuxedo Max, who punched above his weight with an upset Methven win last Sunday, can’t find a new home. “He’s racing great. I can’t sell him and we don’t want a lot for him,” said trainer Mark Jones. A son of former Interdominion Grand Final, Hunter Cup and dual Auckland Cup champ Elsu (1:53.6), Tuxedo Max found some of his sire’s stamina to win from the second row on the grass last  Sunday, October 19. Back early, driver Blair Orange sent the 4YO to the front 1700m out ahead of Graduate Under Fire, then trailed …

LATEST NEW ZEALAND CUP RANKINGS Further withdrawals means only four horses remain outside the cut-line for the $700,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup at Addington on November 11, following the latest rankings released by HRNZ on Wednesday, October 15. The latest to be withdrawn from the cup nominations are: Easy On The Eye, Jason Rulz, Maximan, Pure Power, Lets Elope, Classiesistar and Vice Chairman. Last season’s Harness Jewels 4YO Emerald winner Franco Nelson secured an automatic entry following his second to Terror To Love in last Friday’s Canterbury Classic. Latest rankings 1. Terror To Love 2. Christen Me 3. Franco …

TWICE THE DELIGHT REWARDS SOUTHERN OWNERS Aptly-named Twice The Delight passed her first step toward a potential Southland Oaks target in the autumn with a tidy front-running debut win at Gore on Saturday, October 11. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Trelise (Holmes Hanover-Twice As Good) was sent out a dominating $1.60 favourite on the strength of an impressive recent Rangiora trial and was always in control. Overport Lodge trainer-driver Mark Jones, who brought up his sixth training win for the term, dictated the front end from the three gate. After having former stablemate Rockahula Arden for company over the …

ABETTORPUNT IMPROVES NZ CUP RANKING Victorian pacer Abettorpunt has moved three spots to seventh on the latest rankings for the $700,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington on November 11. The 7YO David Lewis-trained Bettor’s Delight gelding improved his ranking after taking out a Group 3 ffa at Ballarat last Friday for driver John Caldow in a track record-equalling 1:53.1 mile. Abettorpunt, a former runnerup to the ill-fated Sushi Sushi in the 2011  Australasian Breeders Crown 3YO colts and geldings Final,  is now the winner of 23 of 59 starts for $413,117. He finished fourth from a stand …

SMOKE N GRIN TRANSFERS ON WINNING NOTE Smoke N Grin, who opened a winning weekend treble for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones at Forbury Park last Thursday, October 2, will remain south for his future racing. The Grinfromeartoear-Smoke N Mirrors gelding transferred back to Westwood Beach trainers Jonny Cox and Amber Hoffman after leading throughout the Dunedin Holiday Park Pace. He will attempt to further his record for the Cox/Hoffman barn, but steps up to a C2-4 win race, at Gore on Saturday. Smoke N Grin won second-up for the Westwood Beach trainers at the Riverton meeting at Invercargill last …

NEW MARES RACE FOR SHOW DAY September 22, 2014 The New Zealand Sires Stakes Board together, with The Met at Addington, will be staging a new race on Show Day, Friday 14 November solely catering for 4 year old and over pacing mares. The race, to be known as the Nevele R Sires Stakes Southern Mares Classic, will carry a significant stake of $40,000. It will be staged over 1950 metres from a mobile start with a preferential barrier draw based on assessment and winning stakes using the Addington track grid. Any horse (now mare) where the foal nomination fee …

MASTER LAVROS TO TRIAL NEXT WEEK Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones confirmed top trotter Master Lavros will trial next week before kicking off his 6YO racing season at Addington on October 3. Master Lavros made a return at the Rangiora workouts on Wednesday, September 17, but wasn’t pushed after losing ground early. “He missed away bad being so fresh,” Mark said. “But I was very happy with afterwards.” Master Lavros wasn’t asked for a serious run in the C1 and faster trot taken out by fellow 40m marker Phil’s Gift, who trotted the 2600m (stand) in 3:26.6 for driver Stevie …