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CHRISTCHURCH CASINO NZ CUP, THIRD RANKINGS Tiger Tara has again been the major beneficiary of the latest round of rankings for the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup following his spritely victory in Sunday’s Hannon Memorial at Oamaru. The Geoff Dunn trained pacer’s effort pushed him to inside the top 15 places – up four from his previous spot 16th to 12th on the order of entry for the race. It won’t secure the impressive four-year-old a berth for certain, but puts him on the right track. Others to improve on their position over the weekend were Hannon runner-up Four …

MASTER LAVROS TO RACE ON OCTOBER 3 NZ Trotter of the Year Master Lavros is set to return to the trials within two weeks for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones. Mark has a return to racing earmarked for the big Sundon gelding in a $12,000 C4-0C trot over 2600m at Addington on October 3. “He’s had a great long slow build-up,” Mark said. Master Lavros will be a leading hope to repeat last year’s dominant Group One Dominion Handicap success at the New Zealand Cup meeting. Now six, the Kypros Kotzikas-owned trotting star is still lightly-raced, despite kicking off his …

SAVEAPATROL SCHEDULED TO RESUME IN JANUARY Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones is counting down the months for the racetrack return of stable pacing star Savepatrol next year. Saveapatrol, last seasons’s luckless Auckland Cup placegetter,  underwent a minor surgery for a leg issue after spelling in March. “I’m rapt with Saveapatrol’s recovery. His leg looks great after we  took a precautionary measure to operate,” Mark said. “He’s had sixs weeks swimming already and walks one hour in surf  every day. He’s set to resume jogging next month and he looks great.” Mark says he’ll be in no hurry with the lightly-raced …

SECOND RANKINGS, CHRISTCHURCH CASINO NEW ZEALAND CUP Maurice Holmes Vase runnerup Tiger Tara is the only major mover in the second rankings for November’s Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup, when released on Tuesday, September 9. He improves his spot by three to 16, just outside the cut-line, but gets another chance to move up the ladder in Sunday’s Hannon Memorial at Oamaru. Others to improve are; Jason Rulz (one spot), Pass Them By (two spots), and Lewy Risk (two spots). 2ND RANKINGS 1. Terror To Love 2. Christen Me 3. For A Reason (NSW) 4. Themightyquinn (WA) 5. Adore Me …

JELLIGNITE CONTINUES TO WIN IN QUEENSLAND Former Overport Lodge pacer (My) Jellignite continues to shine in the sunshine state of Queensland. Now seven, the Courage Under Fire gelding racked up his 19th career win when he won in 1:53.3 (1660m) at Albion Park, Brisbane, on August 30. After winning 10 from 38 starts in NZ, he was exported to Australia two years ago in search of better handicap opportunities. He won $62,712 in NZ, but his lifetime earnings have grown to $A174,966 across the Tasman for breeder-owner, Mrs Pat Campbell. Jellignite, from the Badlands Hanover mare Badjelly The Wytch, has …

OVERPORT LOGDE SCORES FORBURY AUGUST DOUBLE Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones made the trek to Forbury worthwhile, chalking up his first two wins of the new term with maidens, Watch The Dream and Eastburn Mara, on Thursday, August 28. Watch The Dream, a newcomer to the stable after showing trials promise but finishing unplaced in two juvenile starts for Spreydon Lodge trainer Steve McRae, lived up to her breeding with a gritty effort in the Washington VC Fillies & Mares Mobile Pace. The 3YO daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Dreamy Atom (Soky’s Atom-Lumber Lie) had to be good to overcome …

GOTTA GRUNTER SCORES AT NEWCASTLE Gotta Grunter, a Timaru winner first-up for the Mark Jones stable on July 6, was also a first-up winner in New South Wales on Friday, August 22. Now a stablemate of last Sunday’s Australasian Breeders Crown 4YO entires and geldings Final winner Marty Monkhouser in Shane Tritton’s Keinbah stables, Gotta Grunter pressed to the front from the eight gate at Newcastle. Gotta Grunter scored by 3.3m from fellow ex-Kiwi (Our) Expressive Art in a 1:59.2 rate for the mobile 2030m. The Gotta Go Cullect-Sheza Grunter gelding gets a chance for a final 3YO win in …

FIRST RANKINGS, CHRISTCHURCH CASINO NZ CUP The first round of rankings for the 2014 edition of the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup have been released (as of Tuesday, August 26, 2014). The rankings list will determine the final field to contest the $700,000 3200 -metre Group One event at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. Addington Raceway Racing Manager Brian Rabbitt said: “This is a very strong group of horses. The quality of those outside the top 15 is outstanding, especially in comparison to last year. That makes the club (NZ Metro) very excited about all the upcoming spring …

PERENNIAL PLACEGETTER SECOND IN FAREWELL RUN Betta Klik stole a march for Robbie Close turning for home and spoiled the winning farewell for consistent C1 pacer Jaccka Len in the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Mobile Pace at Addington on Friday, July 25. Jaccka Len, held up when clearing traffic at the 300m for Michelle Neilson, finished stoutly when in the clear but came up a neck short in the junior drivers pace. The Geoff Dunn-trained Better Klik lasted in a solid 1:57.9 rate for the 1950m. Overport trainer Mark Jones is likely to send the Butterworth Racing Syndciate-owned Jaccka Len north …

ALLIED SECURITY TO SPONSOR VASE Addington is pleased to announce that one of the key lead up races to the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup has a new sponsor in 2014. Allied Security, who is a key business partner of Addington’s, will take naming rights of the Group 3 $25,000 Maurice Holmes Vase. The race is to be known as the Allied Security Maurice Holmes Vase. The winner of the race on 5 September will automatically gain qualification for the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup on Tuesday November 11, along with the winner of the Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup on …