BIG FOUR SIRES DOMINATE SALES ENTRIES A total of 322 combined entries by top four sires _ Bettor’s Delight, Mach Three, Christian Cullen and Art Major _ will provide the main nucleus for purchasers at the February 2011 Yearling Sales in Auckland and Christchurch. The Australasian Classic Sale at Karaka (Saturday, February 19) has attracted 184 entries, up 11 from last year, and includes 20 from South Island vendors. PGG Wrightson representative Rachel Deegan (pictured right) has advised this will be the first year the Premier Sale in Christchurch (February 21-23) has been fully selected over the three days. Day …
NZ Cup noms close
MY MAN DAN AMONG NZ CUP NOMS Quality and depth are the two shining characteristics of the nominations for the 2010 Christchurch Casino NZ Trotting Cup to be run at Addington on November 9. Though the club has received 32 nominations this year. Among the marquee nominations are last year’s winner Monkey King, the only other horse guaranteed a Cup start at this point, Stunin Cullen, and a raft of internationally performed pacers including Bettor’s Strike, Bondy, Kiwi Ingenuity, Power Of Tara and Tintin In America. Australians are staging another assault on the great race too. Smoken Up is back …
Supreme Christian seizes 2nd chance
SACKED AT TWO, NOW A SUPREME TURNAROUND Burnham trainer Mark Jones edged a step closer to the training century when Supreme Christian led over the last 1400m for driver Regan Todd at the Forbury Park Tuesday meeting on September 28. Mark, in only his 4th season as a public trainer, advanced to 97 career NZ training wins with the victory. The Tuesday win was Mark’s seventh training win for the new term, putting him only one behind former employer Cran Dalgety, and cousin Tim Butt, on the early premiership table. Mark kept his driving total ticking over with a well-timed …
Supreme Gem promising maiden
DAUGHTER OF FLYING SANDS WINTON-BOUND Supreme Gem, the first foal from speedy racemare Flying Sands (11 wins, 1:56.5 mile rate, 1950m), will be aimed at a maiden mile at Winton next month after clearing out at the Rangiora workouts on Saturday, September 25. Mark recalled he was bidding for the Christian Cullen filly to help the vendor at the yearling sale when he ended up with the winning bid. “I was bidding for Vicki Cowan at the yearling sales. She said if I go to 60 she’d buy her back. I got caught on a $60,000 bid. When I …
Shezoneoftheboyz in Victoria
NZ TROT DERBY WINNER IN VICTORIA Shezoneoftheboyz, last season’s NZ Trotting Derby winner for Burnham trainer Mark Jones, will be based in Victoria for most of her 4YO racing. “She’ll do a bit of racing for Craig Demmler,” Mark said. “Owner Peter Chambers is a man of his word and he always said she was to race in Australia this season.” “I was lucky to have her as long as I did. She may come back over for the 4YO Jewels but we’ll just wait and see.” “Craig said she was super when she arrived.” The younger half-sister by Brylin …
Shesachristian looking for more
SHESACHRISTIAN SET FOR FINAL RACE CAMPAIGN Shesachristian, who resumes in the Keith Ussher “Architecture” Mobile Pace for 4YO and older mares at the Rangiora meeting at Addington on Thursday September 23, has a date with speed sire McArdle this spring. “She’ll be going to McArdle very shortly and will probably race on until after Christmas, providing her form holds up,” said Burnham trainer Mark Jones. “She’s done a bloody good job, winning over $100,000,” he said. Now six, the Christian Cullen-Achy Breaky Heart mare won a Sires’ Stakes Fillies Heat at two, then was a nose second to Natal Franco …
Peter Chambers increases involvement
PETER CHAMBERS INCREASES NEW ZEALAND COMMITMENT Jakarta-based Australian businessman Peter Chambers had a big interest in developments on the Canterbury scene in late August. Mr Chambers has confirmed he was the buyer, through agent Peter O’Rourke, of 2005 NZ Cup winning mare and 2005-06 NZ Harness Horse of the Year Mainland Banner at the Cullen Breeding Dispersal Sale on Sunday, August 29. On Saturday, Mr Chambers Burnham-based trainer Mark Jones stepped out two 2YO fillies owned by the major owner at the Rangiora workouts on Saturday, August 25. “Peter is sending Mainland Banner to Rocknroll Hanover,” Mark said. “Hopefully I …
Fast Ready To Run trial
COURAGE COLT FAST IN RTR TRIAL Marble Ridge (Courage Under Fire-Seacrest Franco colt) recorded the fastest sectionals at the Ready to Run video trial day at Ashburton on Tuesday, September 14. Trained at West Mellon by Macolm Shinn, Marble Ridge ran his 800m section in a sharp 54.9s, closing with a final 400m in in 25.8s. Marble Ridge’s dam Seacrest Franco, an unraced daughter of Live Or Die and Seafoam Franco, who has left the useful winners Franco Sandman (12 wins, 1:55.3, Aus) and Prince Of Tides (four NZ wins, 1:54.2, US). His grand-dam is an unraced daughter …
Aftershocks cause abandonment
AFTERSHOCKS CAUSE ABANDONMENT A major 5.1 magnitude aftershock in Christchurch on Wednesday morning (Sept 8) at 7.49am has led to the abandonment of Thursday’s Addington Raceway meeting. The decision to abandon the meeting was made by the Club in conjunction with HRNZ officials. Addington Raceway CEO, Shane Gloury, reported to HRNZ from the site. “Everybody here worked so hard to get the place ready to go after the weekend but this mornings aftershock put us back to where we were after the first quake.” “There is a range of issues that necessitated the abandonment. There is damage in many of …
Smart mares on the move
CRYSTAL STAR RETIRED, TELEMECANIQUE FOR USA The Mark Jones Racing Stables is entering a rebuilding phase with last season’s smart 4YO mares, Crystal Star and Telemecanique, on different career paths. Crystal Star, who won 11 of 40 starts for $148,406 in stakes for owner “Jim” McDonald, has been sold as a broodmare to Australian owner Peter Chambers.Telemecanique, who stepped up last term, jets out of Auckland on Monday August 30 for North America. She won 11 of 30 NZ starts, earning $102,839 for owner Dave Neal. “Its a massive loss out of the team with those two going. It looks …