COMMANDER JEWEL STAYS HOME Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has cancelled a proposed $A50,000 Victoria Trotting Oaks start for Commander Jewel at Tabcorp Park, Melton, on Friday, June 10. Mark had planned to send the CR Commando filly across to Australia next Wednesday, but has reviewed those plans after she galloped and failed to settle in the $100,000 Overport Lodge 3YO Ruby at Ashburton on Jewels day, Saturday, June 4. The NZ Trotting Oaks winner tailed the field in the Ruby, won by favourite Paramount Geegee, who was too strong for the Phil Williamson-trained stablemates Springbank Sam …
Babes Boy Bob back with trial win
BABES BOY BOB RESUMES WITH TRIAL WIN Babes Boy Bob, spelled after being placed on both days of the Nelson summer meeting in January, resumed with a solid showing to win the 2-3 win mobile pace at the Motukarara trials on Wednesday, June 8. Driven by Scott Stewart, Babes Boy Bob settled last of the four but picked up the leaders in the run home to win going away by half a neck in 2:51.6 for the mobile 2200m from pacemaker Eastwood Cullen, Aziza (parked) and Juryman. The leaders finished off over their last 800m in 59.6s and …
‘Lavros’ makes Jewels
MASTER LAVROS MAKES JEWELS Burnham trainer Mark Jones will drive Master Lavros, one of two NZ 2YO trot record holders he has qualified for for the Harness Jewels $100,000 Neumann’s Tyres and The Tyre General 2YO Ruby at Ashburton on June 4. Master Lavros joined 2YO mobile male record holder Beau Brummell in the starting line-up after posting a NZ record for a 2YO trotter over the 2600m distance from a stand at Oamaru on Sunday, May 22.A huge gelding by Sundon, Master Lavros trotted the distance in 3:31.5 on Sunday, shaving 1.1 seconds off the former long-time mark …
Princeton gets win on board
PRINCETON WINS AT THIRD START Improving 3YO Princeton had the Mark Jones stable back in the winner’s enclosure at Addington on Friday, May 26, after a luckless night at Forbury on Thursday, May 25. Mark found the markers early from the two gate with the Bettor’s Delight gelding, ending up with a three back trail until working into the clear early in the run home. Princeton unwound well to wear down Franco Torres by a head at the end of the mobile 1950m in a 2:00.7 mile rate in the $7500 Mountain River Processors Mobile Pace. “He might …
“Jewel” wins NZ Trotting Oaks
COMMANDER JEWEL TOO GOOD IN OAKS Mark Jones furthered a good association with Oxford owner “Jim” McDonald when they won the $25,000 “Dream With Me Stables” NZ Trotters Trust NZ Trotting Oaks with Commander Jewel at Addington on Saturday, May 14. The combination enjoyed good success with former smart mare Crystal Star (11 wins and $148,406), and also won four races last year with Skip Bo. McDonald, a brother of the late Bill McDonald (of Starship fame), selected Commander Jewel from the NZ Yearling Sales two years ago. “I’ve always wanted a trotter. I bred from Racey …
Sarkozy wins treble
SARKOZY NOTCHES HAT-TRICK Sarkozy’s good manners from a stand again helped him to notch his third win on end at the Rangiora meeting on May 8. Mark had him handily placed handy on the outer over the first lap of the 1-2 win Goodwin Contracting Pace, then sent him to the front beginning the last lap. The promising McArdle gelding dashed clear turning for him and he did enough to hold late-closing second favourite Far Too Rusty by a neck in 3:17.4 (2600m stand), a mile rate of 2:02.1. Sarkozy ran his last 800m in 57.9s …
Ambulance donated by Racing Board
AMBULANCE FOR CANTERBURY The New Zealand racing industry has thrown its support behind the residents of Canterbury by donating a new St John ambulance to serve the region. Canterbury is recovering from devastating earthquakes and the donation of the new ambulance to St John is recognition of the organisation’s unswerving support of all Cantabrians in trying times. The new Mercedes ambulance, worth more than $150,000, will join the St John fleet serving Christchurch and the Canterbury region. NZ Racing Board Chairman Michael Stiassny said the Board and the three racing Codes – NZ Thoroughbred Racing, …
‘Magic’ Out of Sires Stakes Final
‘MAGIC’ OUT OF FINAL Overport trainer Mark Jones has been left with only one starter _ Holme Fire _ in the $170,000 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes Fillies championship at Auckland on Friday night, May 6. Stablemate Glenferrie Magic was withdrawn on Tuesday after suffering from muscle tie-up, the end result of waiting in Blenheim for three-four days then having a rough ferry crossing from Picton to Wellington. “Its a shame because she was as good as we could get her before she went up,” said trainer Mark Jones. Mark said she would have been very hard to beat …
Beau Brummell sets NZ record
BEAU BRUMMELL TROTS NZ 2YO RECORD Beau Brummell, the first of four winning drives for Burnham driver Mark Jones at Timaru on Sunday, May 1, surprised with a New Zealand record win for a two-year-old colt or gelding squaregaiter. The Earl gelding’s good manners helped him capitalise on a perfect trail to take out the Opihi Vineyard Juvenile Mobile Trot. Beau Brummell finished determinedly along the inner to wear down first-starter Another Love in 2:34.4 for the mobile 2000m, a mile rate of 2:04.2. His time was 0.4 inside the month old mark set by Flying Isa at Rangiora …
Master Lavros trots useful solo trial
MASTER LAVROS SHOWS PROMISE Burnham trainer Mark Jones may consider a start for Master Lavros in the $6000 Seelite Windows and Doors Trotters Silver at Addington on May 17 after a useful solo qualifying effort at Addington on Wednesday, May 4. He will also need to be nominated for the $60,000 Sires’ Stakes Championship at Addington on May 14 but is unlikely to get a start in the main event. Master Lavros, a big gelded son of Sundon, bred and owned by Lavros Lodge principals, Kypros and Mary Kotzikas, impressed catch-driver Blair Orange with the qualifying effort on …