RUGGARI NOT SURE WHAT TO EXPECT My High Expectations comes up against Kiwi raider Kahdon in a heat of the Victoria Trotters Derby at Bendigo this Saturday night, with trainer-driver Adam Ruggari expecting the run to provide a significant insight into whether he is a contender for the final. Joining the New South Wales youngster in the first of three Derby qualifiers are arguably the series’ top two seeds – boom Kiwi filly Kahdon and established local star Rostevarren. “They’re probably the two best in it, so we’ll find out how good our guy is,” said Ruggari, who hails from Swayers Gully, west …
Kahdon draws ace in Derby heat
KAHDON MOST TIGHTLY-ASSESSED IN FIELD Kahdon has drawn the ace barrier in the $A10,000 Seelite Window & Doors Victoria Trotters Derby Heat at Bendigo on Saturday night. The Kiwi-trained Sundon filly is the most tightly assessed 3YO in the field with 6 wins. Rostevarren (5) and My High Expectations (4) are the next best winning squaregaiters in the field. The field is: 10pm (NZ time) SEELITE WINDOWS & DOORS VICTORIA TROTTERS DERBY (HEAT ONE) $10,000, mobile 2650m 1 21121 Kahdon 1 fr M Jones 2 3276 Miss Bullion 2 fr Chris Lang 3 58276 Razor Face 3 fr Michael Marais …
Kahdon smashes them
KAHDON SMASHES THEM Several boom Kiwi trotters have crossed the Tasman in recent years and not lived up to the hype, but Kahdon spared herself a spot on that list with a stunning win in the Group 1 Dallas Building Victoria Trotters Oaks at Melton on Friday, June 11. The impressive filly proved a class above a team of rivals that included Group 1-winning locals Good Thanks and Elusive Charm in the $A50,000 event at Melton’s Tabcorp Park. She made it 6 wins and 4 minor placings from 13 starts. The Sundon filly had won the time-honoured Northern Trotting …
New harness magazine
THE HARNESS EDGE DOWNUNDER COMING IN AUGUST The harness racing industry in Australia and New Zealand is getting a new publication – The Harness Edge Downunder. The Harness Edge magazine based in Canada is launching a quarterly, online edition for the southern hemisphere. The publication will be focused on the racing industry in Australasia bringing with it the foremost publishing technology available. “One year ago The Harness Edge became an online only publication free to the world. The availability of new technology and the simple economics of the racing industry led to the move which resulted in substantial cost savings …
Stallion Station releases Courage fee
STALLION STATION CONFIRM COURAGE DEAL Stallion Station, one of Australasia’s premier breeding establishments, have confirmed they have secured the ownership of the former champion racehorse and now highly successful sire Courage Under Fire. Burnham trainer Mark Jones has had regular success with the stock of Courage Under Fire, developing many by the former 6-time Derby winner for Courage Under Fire’s former Queensland owner Greg Brodie. For the 2010-11 breeding season, Courage Under Fire only frozen semen will be available to New Zealand breeders at a service fee of $NZ 7000 (plus GST). However, for this season only breeders can secure …
Mark Jones filly kicks off Aus B Crown
TABCORP AUSTRALASIAN BREEDERS CROWN BEGINS The 2010 Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown has commenced with the first heats of this year’s series run at the Rangiora meeting at Addington on Tuesday, June 15. (The first heat resulted in a ‘walk-over’ win for the Mark Jones-trained Commander Jewel as the only acceptor in the $5000 2YO Trot Heat. The daughter of CR Commando and In De Fence, raced by “Jim” McDonald, credited stable employee Richard Lee with his first official driving win. The 2nd $5000 heat for 3YO trotters was won by the Gerard O’Reilly-trained Endeavour Sunset by 9 lengths over Ali …
Crystal Star _ always a ‘star’
THE LATE BILL McDONALD KNEW SHE WOULD BE GOOD Oxford owner “Jim” McDonald can thank his late brother Bill McDonald (of Starship fame) for a final tip _ Crystal Star _ only weeks before he died five years ago. “Bill told me this horse (Crystal Star) was the best of the yearlings he had. He said Crystal Star and Rocket Star, would be real good,” Jim said. “Thats why I bought Crystal Star at the sales. I was going for Rocket Star first, but when I realised my sister’s grandson was putting his hand up, I wouldn’t bid against …
Kahdon untroubled to win Vict Oaks
EASY FOR KAHDON IN VICTORIA OAKS Mark Jones notched his 2nd Group One training win in feature 3YO trot features for the season when newcomer Kahdon delivered in the $A50,000 Dallas Building Victoria Oaks at Melton on Friday, June 11. The Burnham trainer-driver had only been the official trainer of Kahdon for only six days, but his experience in campaigning horses in Australia, ensured there were no hiccups along the way. Once he had an emergency passport rushed through last week, the rest of the Victoria Oaks mission went without a hitch. The former world champion driver had previously tasted …
Kahdon settles in perfectly for Oaks
KAHDON HEALTHY FOR VICTORIA OAKS START Kahdon has settled in perfectly at Craig Demmler’s Parwan stables in preparation for the $A50,000 Dallas Building Victoria Trotting Oaks at Melton at 9.42pm (NZ time) on Friday, June 10. New trainer Mark Jones says the Sundon filly hasn’t left an oat since arriving in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon. “I jogged her on the lead on Monday and Tuesday, then worked her over two miles in 4.55 on Wednesday. Hopefully thats all she needs,” Mark said. Kahdon didn’t require much work this week in view of her tough run for second to Vulcan in …
Mark & Kahdon for Melbourne features
MARK TO TRAIN KAHDON FOR AUST. FEATURES Burnham trainer Mark Jones was Melbourne-bound on Sunday, June 6, with exciting 3YO trot filly Kahdon. The NZ Sires Stakes Trotters Championshp and Northern Trotting Oaks winner joined Mark’s team after her game 2nd to Vulan in the $100,000 3YO Jewels Ruby at Cambridge on Saturday, June 5. The Sundon filly was vetted and her sale confirmed on the Monday before the Jewels by Jakarta-based businessman Peter Chambers, who also has Shezoneofheboyz in the Mark Jones stable. “She’s never ever going to go as good for anyone other than Paul Nairn. Paul’s been …