SMART PREMIER DAY WIN BY CAPTAIN PEACOCK Burnham reinsman Mark Jones had no luck with stable runner Lethal Rocket on premier Summer Cup day at Addington, February 5, but extended his winning association with the smart Dean Taylor-trained pacer Captain Peacock. Lethal Rocket’s sulky received a punctured tyre during the running of the United Fisheries Ltd _ Southern Blue Whiting Fillets Mobile Pace, but the Jones runner maintained a solid formline by fighting solidly for fifth to front-running winner Franco Jamar. Two races earlier, Mark drove last season’s NZ Derby winner Captain Peacock confidently for a decisive win in …
Tom Kilkelly leaves admin post
INVERCARGILL HRC PRESIDENT STEPS DOWN Invercargill trainer and administrator Tom Kilkelly has resigned as president of the Invercargill Harness Racing Club. Kilkelly had his final day in the role last Saturday, with Peter Robinson taking over as acting president. He cited “personal reasons” as being behind his decision. “A couple of years down the track when I’ve got a few things out of the way, I might come back to administration, but for now, I want time for me,” he said. Tom Kilkelly is in his 10th year as a public trainer and had his biggest win when Shard …
Kiwi quinella in Ballarat Cup
STUNIN CULLEN RUNS RECORD IN BALLARAT CUP By Jason Bonnington Electric Kiwi pacer Stunin Cullen completed a red-letter night for our trans-Tasman cousins at Bray Raceway, surviving both a courageous compatriot and a lengthy protest hearing to claim the fastest Group 1 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup ever run on Saturday, January 29, 2011. Easy in betting as a result of his second line draw and the overwhelming consensus that the $A125,000 race belonged to Victorian cult hero Smoken Up, Tim Butt’s striking son was eventually sent out an $8.50 third elect. But it became all too clear after …
Rattray out of Aust. junior series
DEFENDING CHAMP TOO OLD FOR SERIES The 10-person Australasian Young Drivers Championship to be staged in conjunction with the Inter Dominion in April has opened up an opportunity for one more New Zealand junior driver. The unavailability of defending harness racing champion Gareth Rattray due his age has put the responsibility back on HRNZ to find a replacement driver. This week HRNZ decided the only just course of action was to give another New Zealand driver an opportunity to compete and win on the international stage. HRNZ CEO, Edward Rennell, was pleasantly surprised by the news coming from Australia. “This …
New horse shapes well
NEW HORSE SHAPES WELL Ardlussa Express, a recent addition to the Mark Jones stable after being purchased out of Southland by Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth, could be heading back there to debut in the black and white silks at Invercargill on Monday January 24. The 4YO Falcon Seelster gelding had his first public outing for the stable at the Motukarara workouts on Saturday, January 15, impressing junior driver Regan Todd. “He might go to Invercargill for a junior drivers race as its penalty-free,” Regan said. Ardlussa Express settled at the back as free-going pacemaker Code Of Honour went clear …
Supreme Gem wins Nelson maiden
SUPREME GEM FAST IN NELSON MAIDEN Well-bred filly Supreme Gem will target the first $18,0000 Nevele R 3YO fillies Heat for the season at Blenheim next Friday, January 14, after easily winning her maiden at Nelson on Friday, January 7. The daughter of Christian Cullen and the first foal from former speedy racemare Flying Sands (1:56.5 mile rate, 1950m) bounced back from a slightly disappointing first-up run for six weeks at Addington on New Year’s Eve. “Its hard to get a line on her at home. I was hoping she’d improve with that run under her belt,” Mark …
Telemecanique in 1:52.1
TELEMECANIQUE RUNS 1:52.1 AT THE MEADOWLANDS Former Mark Jones-trained mare Telemecanique lowered her mile best to 1:52.1 with a strong effort in snow cooled temperatures at the Meadowlands, New Jersey, on Saturday, January 7. The Falcon Seelster-Seldom Home mare was recording back-to-back wins in North America since joining the Richard “Nifty” Norman barn. After being eased back early from her three draw, she improved three wide with cover over the last half for driver David Miller. Telemecanique stormed down the outside to win going away by two lengths in the $US23,500 pace. The race was for non-winners of $US22,500 in …
Swedish trotter for Addington Inters
ANNICKA COMING FOR INTER DOMINIONS The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) is proud to announce that its push to lure a top European trotter to contest the 2011 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship at Addington Raceway had been successful. Connections of Annicka, a topline six-year-old trotting mare from Sweden have committed to a New Zealand campaign that will see her contest the Dream With Me Stables Inter Dominion Trotting Championship as well as the Rowe Cup. Annicka will arrive in New Zealand with an impressive record against some of the best Trotters in Scandanavia and connections are keen …
Ex stablemates win overseas
EX STABLEMATES WIN OVERSEAS Telemecanique and Atom Of Courage, formerly stablemates at the Burnham stables of trainer Mark Jones, have gained their first wins respectively overseas. Former smart racemare Telemecanique bounced back from being sick a month ago to win a $US19,000 mares race at Harrahs Chester in 1:53.2 for the mile. Telemecanique, former speedy NZ mare, who has opened her winning account in North America. The Falcon Seelster mare settled fourth and finished best to win by 3/4 of a length. Another former Canterbury mare in Joyfuljoy finished fourth. “She dropped back in grade for that one, but …
Australasian hat-trick for owner
WINS ON CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS Major owner Peter Chambers won an Australasian hat-trick last weekend. Ex-Mark Jones runners, Shezoneoftheboyz and (Glenferrie) Alexis, scored for Cranbourne trainer Craig Demmler at Tabcorp Park, Melton, on Friday and Saturday night, following on from Heather Castleton’s win for the Mark Jones stable at Addington on Thursday. “I was rapt for Peter. Alexis is going amazing and he’s been rewarded for his patience,” Mark said. “She’s been racing good each week. I’d like to think shes capable of racing the best mares in Australia.” “Peter’s parents will be enjoying her form too. They’re like unofficial …