Mark headed south with a big team on Thursday while Benny is in charge of the Canterbury runners – they’re busy men! ADDINGTON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20 RACE 1 SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR (8, fr. 1980m mob) Ricky May -“A gallop last start and onto the all-weather now. I think she’s a chance with a nice run through from the draw.” (Mark). RACE 2 MRS WASHINGTON (11, fr. 1609m mob) Ricky May -“A poor draw for her. She really needed to draw one here. So plenty of luck needed.” (Benny). RACE 3 MICHELLE (1, fr. 1980m mob) Ricky May -“Mobile start and …
Wayne says no to rush for Memphis
She was almost sold a few months ago and now she’s staying put. Top filly Stylish Memphis was to be well-settled in Perth by now after a sweet deal was agreed to by Western Australian connections, only to fall at a minor vet issue at the eleventh-hour. Owner Wayne Higgs had constructed a deal to sell the filly but would retain the breeding rights at a later date, a good deal for all but ultimately one which did not proceed. Fast forward six months and Stylish Memphis, a full-sister to wonderful race filly and mare Delightful Memphis, successful in three …
Kick-off begins for the holiday season
The race team will soon be out in force, this week more select numbers led by Stylish Memphis and Lulu Le Mans in the Group 1 $100,000 Peter Breckon Memorial Caduceus Club Stakes at Alex Park on Saturday night. ADDINGTON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 RACE 1 FANCY (8, fr. 1980m mob) Ricky May -“She got back and ran on well last time. Plan A is to go forward and Plan B is to do Plan A well.” (Benny). RACE 2 SIOUX PRINCESS (11, U1, fr. 1980m mob) Sam Ottley -“We know about her – she trots she can win – she …
Willison, Deny Everything to the paddock
Mark will take a mid-season break with impressive Addington winner Willison and maiden graduate Deny Everything, respective winners for the Elite team on Friday and Saturday. Willison, who raced without luck at the Cup meeting, put his best foot forward on Friday with Mark in the sulky, though he’s ready for a break now. “I’d not been as happy with him, and even in the week leading up to Friday night until he worked nice on Wednesday,” said Mark. “He can have as nice break over Christmas now and back for something bigger later – he’s good enough to run …
Dexter gets Whittaker home
DEXTER DUNN SALUTES AT BIG M WITH WHITTAKER Former champion NZ driver Dexter Dunn warmed up for Sunday’s $2.8 million card at The Meadowlands, New Jersey, with a winning treble on an under-card there on Saturday, including success with former Overport Lodge pacer, Whittaker. Dexter, who topped a staggering $US11 milliion mark in winning driver pursess for the year this week, was able to win from the eight barrier in a $12,500 with Whittaker, these days prepared by Paul Blumenfield. Whttaker settled in midfield improved to challenge turning for home and ran clear by a length and three-quarters in 1:52.2 …
Forty Thieves another useful export
FORTY THIEVES ADDS TO GOOD JONES SALE RECORD Forty Thieves, who led and won at Melton in a useful 1:54.4 rate (2240m) on Friday night, is another good winner to be sold early days out of the Mark Jones stable. Bred by Hamish Scott, Dr Kim Lawson and Equine Investments Ltd, the Chistian Cullen-Harem Franco gelding only raced twice in NZ at three, with Jones letting him go after winning a $5413 maiden at Forbury in December 2015 in a 1:59.5 rate (2200m). The half-brother to Franco Harrison (1:58.1) and Franco Harrington (1:51.2, US) led throughout Friday’s $20,000 Allied Express …
No boarding pass required for Memphis
Smart filly will float to Auckland after Alabar heat at Addington Mark and Benny have made the decision to sit and wait for next Friday’s $22,000 Alabar Sires Stakes Fillies Heat at Addington and pass by the chance to fly Stylish Memphis to Auckland a few days earlier. A plane will head to Auckland on Monday with a number of Alexandra Park hopefuls for the December carnival and she could have been on it in preference to running in the Auckland heat of the series on December 6. But after the training partners discussed the programme it was felt a …
Mark Jones sold NZ Cup winner
MARK HITS JACKPOT AS SELLER OF QUALITY BLOODSTOCK Burnham trainer Mark Jones, widely respected as a genuine seller, became part of a rare group to have sold a New Zealand Cup winner. Brendon “Benny” Hill has trained a two-time NZ Cup winner in Monkey King, and on Tuesday, his new training partner became part of a rare group to have sold a New Zealand Cup winner. Mark, a genuine seller from day one, could earn no better respect from industry speculators, than offering up Cruz Bromac and parting with him as a qualified but unraced late three-year-old in July, 2015. …
A Fancy way to head to the Oaks
After success for Elite Racing at Ashburton today, well-bred filly Fancy will head south next week with a couple of mates to tick off a run in Southland as Benny and Mark chase the Southland Oaks. “I don’t think it’s worth chasing Amazing Dream up north,” said Benny Hill after her Ashburton win. “So she can tag along with Silent Major and Burnham Boy who will head down for the $15,000 Nugget Final next Friday,” he said. The Bettors’ Delight daughter of Regret (by In the Pocket) is a sister to handy pacers Bedtime, Mundaka, Natural, Excellent, and Ragnarr. Birchbrook …
The Elite blueprint is to get back there – Benny
If you ask Benny Hill or Mark Jones what level they want to be at, the answer is not only obvious, but made rather clear. Benny has tasted success in the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup before, winning twice with Monkey King, the king of Addington. Add a second with Baileys Dream, a fourth with Power Of Tara (behind Monkey King) and Benny knows the kick you get being a headline act in the country’s greatest race. He has Skippys Delight in the $170,000 Sires Stakes Final tomorrow (Tuesday), but as a 101/1 outsider he’s realistic. Just a couple …