POSTHUMOUS AWARD FOR KAHDON Ill-fated filly Kahdon joined an elite list of 3YO trotters to be voted NZ Trotter of the Year in Christchurch on Saturday, July 31. Kahdon, who lost her life to a bacterial infection in Australia on July 19, joins One Over Kenny (2005) and Sovereignty (2008) as previous age group champions to take out the coveted title. Voters gave Kahdon a three vote advantage over Dominion Handicap winner Springbank Richard for the top of the division, polling 11 votes to eight. Rowe Cup champ Sundons Gift gained 7 votes for Trotter of the Year, while top …
Atom Of Courage kicks season off
ATOM OF COURAGE BACK IN FORM The Mark Jones Racing Stables kicked off the new season the right way when Atom Of Courage led virtually end-to-end at the Invercargill Harness Racing Club’s meeting on Sunday, August 1. The only downside for trainer Mark Jones was that the win came a day too late to take advantage of a 3YO handicapping win concession. “It was just a bit of bad timing with him turning four overnight,” Mark said. Atom Of Courage again showed his liking for the front-end, with Mark saying he probably relaxes a bit better there. Driver Regan …
Kahdon loses battle
KAHDON LOSES BATTLE Kahdon lost the biggest battle of her life to a bacterial infection at a veterinary clinic in Victoria on Monday, July 19. NZ’s top 3YO trotter struggled to beat the infection for much of the week leading up to her demise. “She was 50-50 all the way through really, then took a turn for the worse,” said trainer Mark Jones. “They were teeing her up for an operation at 4pm, but she died an hour earlier,” he said. “I feel sorry for Peter Chambers (owner). He loves his horses and was pretty upset.” It was a double …
Mark tops 50 training wins for season
MARK TOPS 50 TRAINING WINS Burnham trainer Mark Jones racked up his 50th training win of the season when Skip Bo caused a major upset in a 1-2 win mobile pace at Addington on Friday, July 16. Mark has exceeded all expectations in just his second term as a public trainer. He has also maintained his high profile as a reinsman with 91 driving wins for the term. The Mark Jones stable advanced to 51 training wins when Union Buster justified his favouritism with a maiden victory at Rangiora on Saturday. The stable have won NZ earnings of …
Vict Trot Derby & Redwood results
JINGLING ALL THE WAY Jingling Silver capped an unforgettable Redwood Carnival for Chris Lang when she became only the third filly in the past 20 runnings to win the Seelite Windows and Doors Victoria Trotters Derby (2690m) at Maryborough on Sunday, July 18. The daughter of Conch De Ville joined last year’s winner Arizona Blue and 2003 champion Zesta as the only girls to have upstaged the boys since 1991 when she sprint-laned to victory in the $A75,000 Group 1. It was Lang’s fourth win for the day and ensured the 25th anniversary Redwood Carnival would go down as his …
Lang plots celebration
LANG PLOTS CELEBRATION Every Seelite Windows & Doors Redwood Classic is special, but Sunday’s 2010 edition at Maryborough is particularly significant given it will be the 25th running of the iconic event. And no driver rises to the occasion better when the famed race for two-year-old trotters reaches a milestone than Gavin Lang. The champion Melton horseman won the inaugural Redwood in 1986 aboard Young Trouper and saluted again with Andandon when it celebrated its 15th edition. Lang will be out to keep the trend going when he partners Chateau De Ville in Sunday’s $50,000 Group 1. The …
Victtoria maintain stakes next season
HRV MAINTAINS STAKE LEVELS Despite the uncertainty surrounding the racing industry’s wagering revenue, the Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Board has determined that 2009/10 stakemoney levels will be maintained for the 2010/11 season. However, the Board has determined that the profile of stakemoney will change. Within the stakemoney total of $33.6m, a reallocation of the mix will take place as follows: • Stakemoney for Saturday night career-front racing will increase from $5000 to aminimum of $7000 with effect from November 1, 2010 • The SEW-Eurodrive Victoria Cup will increase by $25,000 to $425,000 • The BIG6 Hunter Cup will increase …
Rostevarren upsets Kahdon
ROSTEVARREN UPSETS KAHDON Rostevarren utlised the sprint lane to catch $1.40 favourite Kahdon in the shadows of the post in the first $10,000 Seelite Windows & Doors Victoria Trotters Derby Heat at Bendigo on Saturday, July 3. Kahdon was taken on for the lead early by Razor Face (Michael Marais), who later broke and finished last. The Sundon filly made a good fist of leading virtually all of the way for trainer-driver Mark Jones and will improve with the race _ her first since winning the Victoria Trot Oaks on June 11. However, Rostevarren , a gelded son of Band …
Vict Trot Derby field taking shape
VICT TROTTERS DERBY TAKING SHAPE This year’s Seelite Windows and Doors Victoria Trotters Derby will take further shape on Wednesday night, July 7, when the second heat is run at Geelong. The $10,000 event showcases the Australian debut of high-profile Kiwi blueblood Miami H, who crosses the Tasman a winner of five of 12 starts, the latest a Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown heat at Auckland on June 22. The Derek Balle-trained colt, a son of boom stallion Muscles Yankee and former gun mare Martina H, is a leading contender for the $75,000 Group 1 final, but will be tested by some …
Ricky on Jackaroozy
RICKY ON JACKAROOZY Burnham trainer Mark Jones has picked a driver to suit the diminuitive but competitive Jackaroozy when he shoots for back-to-back Forbury Park wins on Friday, July 2. “Ricky (May) is going to drive him and being the size he is, he should suit the horse,” Mark said. Mark is heading to Melbourne on Friday to drive top 3YO trotter Kahdon in a heat of the Victoria Trotting Derby on Saturday night. “I couldn’t get a flight over on Saturday, so I’m going Friday. Ricky can also drive San Fran Lady at Forbury. The boys here can look …