JILL SMOLENSKI MAKES STRONG CONTRIBUTION Burnham trainer Mark Jones considered his eighth training win for the season a bonus after In Like Magic scored a deserved win in the Travelsmart Garden City Trot at Addington on Friday, October 15. “Jill Smolenski came to work for me about six weeks ago and brought In Like Magic with her,” Mark said. “She works in the mornings and is an asset to the stable. She works fast and has us all busy keeping up with her,” he said. Jill doesn’t have her own training licence, so In Like Magic was officially transferred …
Ransom Olds likely to race in Aust
AUSSIE INTEREST IN INVERCARGILL WINNER Ransom Olds, who rejoined the Mark Jones stable only a week before he delivered at the Riverton meeting at Invercargill on October 26, is likely to join the export list before long. “There’s been interest from Aussie for him,” Mark said. “He was pretty good last season but got knocked over in the 2YO Sires Stakes Final at Addington (May 21).” “He ended up with 12 stitches in a foot and only went to the Jewels at Cambridge (June 5) to get the appearance money ($5000).” “He still had the stitches in when he raced …
Smoken Up coming for NZ Cup
MENANGLE MILE FRIDAY, THEN NZ CUP If anybody seriously suspected that Smoken Up’s first loss in almost seven months would subdue Lance Justice’s trademark confidence ahead of his second straight sortie across the Tasman for the $750,000 New Zealand Cup, they were sadly mistaken. Beaten but not bowed by former Victorian Horse of the Year Melpark Major in Kilmore’s signature sprint – the Popular Alm – on October 24, Australia’s fastest pacer is heading to Menangle and the 1609-metre Brian Hancock Cup en route to a date with destiny at Addington raceway on November 9. And last year’s leading Metropolitan …
HRNZ to develop trot series
HRNZ COMMITTED TO ALTERNATIVE TROT SERIES At the Harness Racing Australia (HRA) Annual General Meeting on Monday, October 18, a number of changes were agreed to for the future conduct of the Inter Dominion Championships. Key changes agreed were: Introduction of a tender system for the conduct of the Pacers Championship for 2013-2015 by eligible cities, in contrast to the present rotation system; and Rebranding of the current Trotters Championship to avoid confusion with the Pacers Series. These changes agreed by HRA are to be considered by the Board of Harness Racing New Zealand at its meeting on 8 November. …
Mark Jones driving in Origin series
MARK JONES DRIVING IN INAUGURAL ORIGIN SERIES The Auckland Trotting Club is pleased to announce the inaugural Island Of Origin Drivers Series, to be run at Alexandra Park on November 5, 2010. The series will see New Zealand’s leading driver’s competing on the track to secure top honours for their Island of Origin. The chosen drivers will be representing the Island they were born in, with the following teams selected: North Island David Butcher (Pukekohe), Peter Ferguson (North Shore), Tony Herlihy (Te Awamutu), Todd Mitchell (Cambridge), Mark Purdon (Pukekohe), James Stormont (Pukekohe). South Island Anthony Butt (Christchurch), Dexter Dunn …
Inter trot series defunct from 2013
HRV REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO TROTTING Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) wishes to respond to articles relating to Harness Racing Australia’s (HRA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Hobart on Monday, October 18, where it was voted to discontinue the Inter Dominion Trotting Championships from 2013. HRV Chairman, Ken Latta said: “I am disappointed with the decision, however it’s important that HRV puts on public record that our commitment to trotting will not diminish. In fact, it is HRV’s view that international interest and support for trotting in Australia is growing and this must be encouraged. “Therefore, in the …
OK Courage resumes in workout
OK COURAGE 3RD IN ADDINGTON WORKOUT OK Courage, unraced since being pulled up at Rangiora on May 9, is being aimed at a $35,000 3-win mobile 2600m pace at Addington on NZ Cup day after his sound third when resuming at the Addington workouts on Monday, October 18. Now five, the Courage Under Fire gelding has the impressive overall record of nine wins and five placings from 21 starts for $81,246 in stakes. OK Courage showed good stamina over the mobile 2600m at Addington in April last year, winning a junior drivers mobile 2600m pace in the hands of Dexter …
Basshunter tops RTR sale
BASSHUNTER TOPS RTR SALE Basshunter, who trialled over 800m in 55.6s and his final 400m in 26.1s at Ashburton last month, fetched the top price of $90,000 at PGG Wrightson’s Ready To Run 2YO Sale in Christchurch on Wednesday, October 13. The Mach Three colt, a half-brother to nine winners including The Pukekohe Pirate (1:56.2h, US), The Millionairness (1:56m, US) and The Pukekohe Panther (1:55.4f, US), was knocked down to Australia buyer, Dean Shannon of Montana Park P/L. Burnham trainer Mark Jones purchased Falcalla, a Falcon Seelster colt from the same family as former big-winning pacers Margaret Shannon (43 …
NZ Metro TC stakes schedule
NZ METRO TC NEW STAKES SCHEDULE The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) announced on Friday, September 17, a range of enhancements to its basic stakes structure, commencing from October 1, 2010. Under the revised stakes structure, a different basic stake level will apply depending on which day of the week an NZMTC meeting is conducted. Headlining the announcement is basic stakes for the majority of Friday night NZMTC meetings will increase to $10,000, under the revised structure. Saturday night meetings will carry a basic stake of $8000, while basic stake levels for Thursday Nights will be set at $7000. …
Inter-Final on Friday April 8
2011 Inter Dominion Grand Final Date Change The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) have announced a change in date for the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Grand Final meeting. Originally scheduled to be conducted on Saturday Night 9 April 2011, the Inter Dominion Grand Final meeting will now be conducted at Addington on Friday night, April 8, 2011. The change in date has been necessitated by the recent release of the Super 15 Rugby Draw. On Saturday night, April 9, the same night originally set down for the Inter Dominion Grand Finals, the Canterbury Crusaders are drawn to play …