YEARLING SALE RACES INCREASE Having reviewed the budget figures, the N.Z. Sires Stakes Board is pleased to announce the following stake increases for the harness racing PGG Wrightson Yearling Sales three-year-old division for this season. 3 Y.O. Open Pace ATC December 31 $250,000 to $275,000 3 Y.O. Fillies NZMTC February 4 $150,000 to $200,000 3 Y.O. Trotters Rang @ Add March 1 $70,000 to $85,000 The increases, which are relative to each pool, ensure that the Sales Series races remain in the top echelon of race stakes for three year olds within Australasia. Courtesy of Doreen Graham, Secretary/Manager NZ …
Sarkozy sold to WA
SARKOZY SOLD TO WEST AUSTRALIA Sarkozy, distinctive in his Canterbury racing last term with his bold white nose, has been sold out of the Mark Jones stable to race from the West Australian stables of Justin Prentice. The 4YO McArdle-Oh So Precious gelding made useful progress through the grades winning three of seven starts last season, banking $13,709 for owners Frances and Max Bowden, and Max’s son Lyndon. His last win was in a strong 3:17.4 for the stand start 2600m at Rangiora on May 8, running his last 800m in 57.9s to win comfortably. He had …
Ohoka Texas . . . 1:54.1
OHOKA TEXAS WINS WINTON MILE Ohoka Texas raced up to expectations for Overport trainer Mark Jones, and junior driver Regan Todd, in his Winton debut on Sunday, October 16, equalling the track mile mark of 1:54.1. The Christian Cullen-Millwood Touche entire blazed over his final 800m in 54.8s and his closing 400m in a sizzling 26.7s to equal Nuclear Byrd’s mile when trained by the late Eric Ryan in December 1997 _ then the NZ mile record. Auckland Reactor subsequently lowered the NZ male mile mark to 1:52.9 at Ashburton in February. Former top mare Kiwi Ingenuity …
Ohoka Texas wins workout
OHOKA TEXAS WINS HEAT Ohoka Texas will head to Winton next Sunday, October 16, on the back of two smart workout wins since teaming up with Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones. The Christian Cullen-Millwood Touche entire is set to contest a 2-3 win junior drivers race over 1609m, with Regan Todd to steer the 4YO in search of a first-up penalty-free handicapping win. Ohoka Texas resumes on a 3-win assessment, having already scored three penalty-free 3YO handicap concession wins last term. He moved up in the open over the final lap and was a nose …
Bob plays iron horse
BABES BOY BOB OUTSTAYS RIVALS Babes Boy Bob, who played the iron horse over the final lap to win at Methven on Sunday, October 9, will try and keep his good form going in a 5-win front race over 2400m at Ashburton on Labour Day. Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones says Babes Boy Bob found the right race last week. Babes Boy Bob, owned in Melbourne by Merv and Meg Butterworth, backed up a good third to NZ Cup nominee Terror To Love at Addington with a comfortable 1 1/4 lengths win at Methven. After starting off 10m …
Ohoka Texas joins team
OHOKA TEXAS NEW ADDITION Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones considers himself lucky to have been entrusted with last season’s smart 3YO pacer Ohoka Texas. Mark says the Christian Cullen-Millwood Touche entire is set to resume at the workouts on October 1. Ohoka Texas, winner of the Group Two $40k Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes Final at Invercargill in April in a 2:03 mile rate over 2700m (last 800m in 55.9s), may return south for a suitable 2-3 win junior drivers race over 1609m at Winton on October 16 in search of another penalty-free win. He won six from …
Supreme Gem wins Sept. double
SUPREME GEM WINS EARLY SEPT. DOUBLE Burnham trainer Mark Jones would ultimately like to take Supreme Gem to Menangle, New South Wales, for some mile racing. She would be suited to a strong pace over sprint distances there. However, her immediate plans were undecided after racing at Addington on Friday, September 9. Mark would like to give her some time off but at the same time he doesn’t want to change anything while she’s going good. The Christian Cullen-Flying Sands mare led and was always in control in the $10,000 Metalcorp NZ Ltd Mobile Pace at Addington. She …
Regan wins with Geo Star
GEO STAR WINS TIMARU MAIDEN Geo Star credited Overport Lodge junior driver Regan Todd with his second training win when she led virtually throughout to win the Norfolk Motors Pace at the Timaru Harness Racing Club’s meeting on Sunday, September 25, 2011. Regan, who prepares a small number on his own account, trained his first winner when Del Sur won at Gore on September 7, 2010. Geo Star, raced by Clemence Drilling Contractors Ltd, was too slick in the run home at Timaru, scoring easily by three-quarters of a length from favourite Four Needed, who finished solidly late. …
NZ Cup entries released
‘BUMPER’ NOMS FOR CHRISTCHURCH CASINO NZ CUP The NZ Metropolitan TC has been inundated with nominations for this year’s $600,000 feature. A total of 49 horseshave been nominated for the NZ Trotting Cup, a very pleasing number for Club officials. Harness Racing NZ Marketing and Communications Manager Andrew Morris says the 49 horses illustrate the resurgent strength and depth of New Zealand harness racing at the top level. He says when you look deeper the quality is definitely there with 10 of last year’s Cup combatants back for another try in 2011. Also eight of the 2011 Inter …
Anita Patron wins Tuesday race
STABLE WINS SIXTH RACE OF SEASON The Overport Lodge team notched their sixth win of the new term with their only starter at Addington on Tuesday, September 13. Regan Todd reined second favourite Anita Patron to a comfortable win in the 1 win Alabar (NZ) Ltd Handicap Pace for his first win of the 2011-12 season and his 52nd career win. After being on the move before the start, resulting in her being sent to the outside, Anita Patron made a ‘flyer” to lead early in the 2000m dash, before trailing Scherger Jack at the 1400m. The Badlands Hanover …