Holme Fire has wind operation

J Scott Former News, Latest News

  FILLIES WINNER HAS WIND OPERATION   HOLME FIRE HAS WIND OPERATION   Holme Fire, a 44-to-one upset winner of the $18,000 Nevele R Stud 3YO Fillies Heat at Waterlea on Friday, January 13, underwent surgery for a minor wind affliction on Tuesday, January 17. Trainer Mark Jones wants to have her at 100 percent for the big fillies races in the autumn. He was very pleased to qualify the younger sister to open class pacer Pembrook Benny (1:53.6) for the big Nevele R final in the opening South Island heat.“Its good she’s qualified so I don’t have to panic …

Texas wins Pelorus, In’gill Cup next

J Scott Former News, Latest News

  TEXAS FOR INVERCARGILL CUP Ohoka Texas, fast developing as a potential New Zealand Cup contender in November, will be put to the test over the extreme distance at Invercargill on January 28. Burnham trainer Mark Jones confirmed he will send the Christian Cullen south for the $40,000 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup on January 28. Ohoka Texas couldn’t have been any more impressive when he trounced his rivals by 7 3/4 lengths in the $40,000 Pelorus 4YO Classic at Waterlea on Sunday, January 15.After striding to the front with 1500m to run, Mark kept the pace strong with Ohoka …

Beau opens 3YO account

J Scott Latest News

  BEAU BRUMMELL MASTERS WET FORBURY Beau Brummell’s good manners led to his first 3YO trot win in unseasonal conditions over 2200m from a stand at Forbury Park on Thursday, January 26. Driver Regan Todd was happy to trail front-running Maple Twist, who led the field in driving rain until nearing the final 400m. Regan moved Beau Brummell out to pressure the leader at the 400m and he quickly had the situation in hand. Beau Brummell kept going to score by two lengths with Maple Twist just holding favourite Galaxy Hunter for second. The Earl gelding improved with two outings …

Saskia Finn enhances value

J Scott Latest News

  SASKIA FINN WINS IN 1:59.7 MILE RATE Improving filly Saskia Finn earned “black type” rating at her sixth career start when she rated 1:59.7 for the 1950m to beat the 1-win pacers at Addington on Tuesday, January 24.   Saskia Finn responded to a perfect drive by Regan Todd, coming off a handy sit on the outer then switching to the inside to wear down front-running Motu Racy Girl in the Teltrac Communications Mobile Pace. The daughter of Artsplace and Maggie Finn ran clear to win by two lengths to notch her second career win for owners Mike and …

Western Flare to race in NSW

J Scott Latest News

  WESTERN FLARE LEAVES FOR SYDNEY Western Flare has been sold out of the Mark Jones stable and is to become a stablemate again of Lethal Rocket in the Pheasants Nest (NSW) stable of Darren Hancock. The five-year-old McArdle gelding left Overport Lodge the winner of three of his last four starts when placed to win at Manawatu and in Canterbury amateur driver races. He credited Trevor Ward with his first tote driving win at Rangiora on December 7, with the combination repeating at Addington in Western Flare’s NZ swan-song at Addington on December 20. Racing over mobile sprint distances …

Extra Inter trot heat added

J Scott Latest News

  EXTRA INTER TROT HEAT ANNOUNCED In a surprise development, Harness Racing Victoria has announced the addition of an extra heat for this week’s Seelite Windows and Doors Inter Dominion Trotting Championship.   The shock revelation coincides with the release of third and final rankings for the iconic series and will mean three preliminaries are run and won at Shepparton this Saturday night (January 21) rather than two.   The move is a genuine gesture of goodwill from the sport’s governing body in this state and will ensure 36 squaregaiters rather than 24 will get their chance at ID glory …

Stable advances to 25 wins

J Scott Latest News

  STABLE ADVANCES TO 25 WINS The Mark Jones stable advanced to 25 wins for the season on Sunday, January 8, showing a good sense of occasion winning races at both the Wyndham and Nelson meetings. Regan’s father Barry is president of the Wyndham Trotting Club, who again took their January meeting to the holidaymakers in Central Otago. Mark delivered by a nose at Nelson with maiden winner Lively Eastburn, who is owned in the area by East Takaka breeder and identity, “Skeet” Barnett. “He was over the moon,” Mark said. Mr Barnett bred the 3YO Live Or Die gelding …

Scott Stewart has first win

J Scott Latest News

  SCOTT SALUTES . . .   Overport Lodge junior driver Scott Stewart gained his first raceday driving win at the dual code Wairarapa fixture on the grass track at Tauherenikau on Monday, January 2, 2012. Wairarapa-raised Scott, in the north spending the New Year with family and friends, showed a good sense of occasion, landing his first success in front of parents, Wayne And Connie.   “It was bloody good to do it on my home track,” he said. Scott picked up four drives on the four-race harness card at the Wairarapa meeting. After finishing second with the Peter …

Big day for Brent Ward

J Scott Former News, Latest News

  BIG BOXING DAY FOR BRENT WARD   Boxing Day, 2011, was memorable for two new lifestyle developments for big scoring provincial rugby full back Brent Ward. He became engaged to partner Sarah only a few hours before cheering Saskia Finn home to win a maiden at Westport _ his first win as a racehorse owner. Brent co-owns Saskia Finn with last year’s Crusaders team-mate Zac Guildford, and a team of other Mark Jones stable owners _ including Mike and Helen Finlayson, Nathan Brown, and the Riverside Boxing Club Syndicate. “I thought it might have been a good omen (getting …

Race caller extends record

J Scott Former News, Latest News

  MARK McNAMARA EXTENDS OWNERSHIP RECORD   Racecaller Mark McNamara says Champagne Franco’s debut win at Rangiora on Sunday, December 18, was an unexpected bonus, especially after drawing the outside of the second row over the 2000m from a stand. “I just wanted to win a race sometime. I didn’t expect to get it first-up,” he said. The Canterbury-based broadcaster is fashioning a useful record as an owner with runners at the Overport Lodge stables of Mark Jones, having won earlier races as a co-owner of Union Buster and Anita Patron. He selected Champagne Franco at the 2010 NZ Premier …