PROMISING FILLY SECURED BY PETER CHAMBERS Promising 3YO trot filly Heather Castleton will race for major Australian owner Peter Chambers when she chases a Harness plus bonus in the Brylin Boyz Trot at Forbury Park on Thursday, November 25. She was purchased from within the Mark Jones stable by Chambers from previous owners, Lex and Heather Williams, on Wednesday, November 24. “Lex and Heather have her dam (Anna Castleton) so they will be able to breed on,” Mark said. Anna Castleton (Gee Whiz 11-Amy Castleton) won four races for former Geraldine trainer Lachie Marshall. She latterly raced for Christchurch trainer …
Scott Stewart has first workout win
NEWCOMER TO MARK JONES STABLE DELIVERS Trials driver Scott Stewart gained his first workout or trial win when he led throughout with Atom Of Courage at the Motukarara workouts on Saturday, November 20. Scott, who worked for Mark Purdon and Grant Payne for a little over a year and a half, only transferred to the Mark Jones stable last week. Raised in Wairarapa, Scott gained the harness racing bug from his parents, Wayne and Connie, who co-own useful pacing mare Cullini (seven wins). Scott had a drive behind the Greg and Nina Hope-trained mare at the Rangiora trials last …
King Of Strathfield unbeaten grass tracks
ORARI NEXT FOR WELL-RELATED SQUAREGAITER King Of Strathfield, unbeaten in two grass track starts, will try for a hat-trick at the upcoming Geraldine meeting at Orari on Saturday week, November 27. The big bay cruised home to win at the Oamaru Harness Racing Club’s Heritage meeting on Wednesday, November 17, for Burnham trainer-driver Mark Jones. “It was only really a sprint up the straight and he did it well,” Mark said. Oamaru was a suitable option for King Of Strathfield after he was found to have been feeling the hard track at Addington on NZ Cup day. “We had …
Babes Boy Bob joins stable
BABES BOY BOB ORARI-BOUND Promising former Southland 1-win pacer Babes Boy Bob may make his debut for the Mark Jones stable in a penalty-free junior drivers 2500m pace at Orari on Saturday week, November 27. The 4YO Totally Western gelding has been purchased out of Jessica Malcolm’s Invercargill stables by Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth, and will head to the workouts on Saturday in his first official run from his new quarters. “I met Merv a few years ago. Babes Boy Bob was going to Australia but he’s left him here with me in a last minute decision, so I’ll …
Shesachristian transfers to beach trainers
SHESACHRISTIAN STAYS SOUTH Shesachristian, who delivered in style at Forbury on Saturday, November 6, has joined the Graeme Anderson/Amber Hoffman stable for her future racing. “She’s gone to McArdle and I think she’s in foal, so she’ll only have a few months left racing,” said Burnham trainer Mark Jones. “I’ve left her with Graeme (Anderson) and she’ll race in his name down there in country cups and mares’ races.” Shesachristian had remained in South Dunedin with the the Anderson/Hoffman team as caretaker trainers at Westwood Beach for the two-week period between her last two Forbury races. “The change of scenery …
Viotorian icon dies
GORDON ROTHACKER DIES The Australian harness racing industry is mourning the loss of its most iconic figure after the passing of Mr Gordon W Rothacker in hospital on Tuesday night, November 16, aged 81. Harness Racing Victoria’s highest individual award, the Gordon Rothacker Medal, is named in his honour, but Gordon was sadly unable to attend the presentation which was only held last Saturday night. Gordon Rothacker won a record 14 Melbourne Drivers’ Premierships between 1949 and 1973, as well capturing 10 Melbourne Trainers’ Premierships between 1953 and 1976. He was the first reinsman to land 500 winners …
San Fran Lady unbeaten in NSW
SAN FRAN LADY WINS GROUP THREE FEATURE San Fran Lady, sold out of the Mark Jones stable in September, won the Group Three $A30,000 Sky Super Sprint Series Final (C3-5) at Newcastle, New South Wales, on November 6. The capable Live Or Die mare held other NZ-bred mares in Tara Royale and Lady Peyton, with former Canterbury mares Vienna Bromac (5th) and Asset Rich (6th). San Fran Lady ran 1:57.8 for the 1609m to win the final, but paced a quicker 1:56.2 at Newcastle the previous week. She is now unbeaten in four NSW starts for trainer Shane …
Three-Year-old fillies qualify
BRODIE-OWNED FILLIES QUALIFY LATE OCTOBER Courage Talks and Honey Delight, 3YO filly stablemates who qualified at Motukarara on Wednesday, October 28, were scheduled to debut at Forbury Park on Saturday week (November 6). “They both go quite good. Hopefully they can keep up,” said trainer Mark Jones, who prepares the pair for Queensland owner Greg Brodie. The Burnham trainer took a day off off from driving on Wednesday, but observed intently from the sidelines. Courage Talks, a 3YO filly sister to the capable 2 win pacer Talk About Courage _ racetimed in 1:57.1 mile when second to …
Tiz Tough useful qualifier
SYNDICATE LOOKING FOR CHANGE OF LUCK Tiz Tough, a useful qualifier for the Mark Jones stable at the NZ Cup trials at Addington on Wednesday, November 3, will be trying to bring a change of luck to a Leeston syndicate in her scheduled race debut at Motukarara on November 29. “The Red And Blue Syndicate have leased a half-share. They’ll race her with Peter Fry from Nelson, who bought her mainly to breed from,” Mark said. The 3YO Falcon Seelster filly is from the useful Soky’s Atom mare Tizaway Tiz (five wins), a grand-daughter of the late Alister Kerslake-trained former …
Mark brings up 100th training win
MARK JONES HITS 100 WITH RANSOM OLDS Burnham trainer Mark Jones brought up a century of NZ training wins without much fanfare in a cheap Tuesday maiden race with Ransom Olds at the Riverton Trotting Club’s meeting on Tuesday, October 26. He is also around $22,000 shy of training the winners of $1 million in NZ. His first training win came when only in his second season as a senior driver. He took out a licence to train while working for West Melton trainer Cran Dalgety, and prepared trotter Man O Man, to score at Oamaru on September 22, 2002, …