It had been a while since regally-bred mare Naiya Franco had won. But Mark had not lost the faith in the daughter of former star pacing mare Nearea Franco. Some 14 starts had passed since her January win at Oamaru without success, but often in fields of a good quality, particularly in mares events. “She had been racing well, and though we’d had good draws at times, they were in the better fields. Then you draw poorly in the lesser ones and on any day a poor draw is still a tough draw to beat,” said Jones. Stable driver Sam …
Mark assists first-term junior driver
KORBYN NEWMAN SCORES WITH LONG-SHOT WINNER Burnham trainer Mark Jones was more than happy to assist junior driver Korbyn Newman with his third career win at Rangiora on Sunday, July 21. Mark, a former World Champion driver, has been instrumental in developing the careers of younger drivers, Samantha Ottley, Robbie Close, Sheree Tomlinson and Laura McKay, and trainer, Regan Todd. So he had no hesitation in putting Korbyn up for a third behind Lets Hustle in the juniors race at Addington last week, and behind 21-to-one long-shot winner, His Royal Harness, at Rangiora on Sunday. “He’s not working for me …
Win No. 30 & 31 for season
STRONG FAMILY TIES WITH LATEST WINNERS The Overport Lodge stables of Mark Jones have racked up their 30th and 31st domestic victories for the season at Forbury and Addington on July 18 and 19. My Design, a Mach Three half-sister to the capable Twice The Delight (1:52.3, Aust; 11 wins & $67,832), and three-win trotter Bet Online, won at just her second start. The win was satisfying as her path had been hindered by several issues. Sam Ottley drove a perfect race with My Design, leading early from the seven draw, then trailing Absolut Russian. The pacemaker was headed turning …
Sam returns, Sheree moves on
QUEENOFDANCE DOUBLE FOR SAM, SHEREE MOVES ON Big-winning reinswoman Samantha Ottley has celebrated a return this month to daily employment at Burnham for Mark Jones, with a winning double behind Queenofdance. Sam repeated her Rangiora win with Queenofdance on July 7, with another victory at Ashburton on Sunday. Between Rangiora and Ashburton, the in-form Queenofdance also ran third from a wide gate at Addington last Friday behind Warloch and Jonty James. She had to overcome a second row draw in the Farmlands Ashburton Social Club Mobile Pace on Sunday, improving with cover mid-race, launching four wide from the 400m. Queenofdance …
Southern race journalist dies
DON WRIGHT DIES, AGED 75 Don Wright, who 18 years ago penned “Win Without Boasting”, the hard book story of legendary horseman Derek Jones (grand-father of Mark Jones), has died. He was 75. Mr Wright, a racing/sports journalist for 48 years, retired after suffering health issues four years ago. He had been in care at Riverton and died on Sunday. He served for 33 years at the Southland Times newspaper until the year 2000, including the last six as Chief of Sport and Racing. Mr Wright was understudy to the late Norman Pierce for many years, writing under the non …
Stable quinella at Rangiora
QUEENOFDANCE ADDS TO WINNING FAMILY Queenofdance, reined by Overport Lodge reinswoman Sam Ottley, and Lets Hustle, driven by Stephen McNally, provided a rare quinella for the Mark Jones stable at Rangiora on Sunday, July 7. Winner Queenofdance is the second winner from her unraced dam Mary Niven to race and win for the Overport Lodge team. Queenofdance follows Rocknroll Nevin, who won twice for the Jones-Ottley combo in her three-year-old racing. Rocknroll Nevin added a four-year-old win when for Westport co-owner Robert Higgins when he prepared her to dead-heat with Clarendon Falcon at the Westport meeting in March last year. …
Sarah O’Reilly wins series
SARAH O’REILLY WINS NZ YOUNG DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP The 2019 McMillan Equine Feeds NZ Junior Driver Champion has been found. Congratulations to Sarah O’Reilly who finished the Championship on 38 points. Second placing was taken out by Kimberly Butt and third place was John Morrison. The South Island team were successful in taking out the InterIsland Challenge on 187 points. The championship was a hard fought contest with first place to sixth place only having one point between each placing. “I am very overwhelmed that I won because I really didn’t expect to. I would like to thank all of the …
Gimmefiveminutesmore, yes
GIMMEFIVEMINUTESMORE REPEATS IN CLAIMER FINAL Gimmefiveminutesmore, aided by a smart front-running drive by Southland reinsman Brent Barclay, brought up the 27th win for the Mark Jones stable at Forbury on Thursday, July 4. The front-running role has lifted Gimmefiveminutesmore to back-to-back Forbury wins in his latest claimer racing over sprint trips. The four-year-old Christian Cullen gelding held well again, this time over 2200m, holding The Night Hawk by three-quarters of a length in the Forbury Claimers Series Final. Gimmefiveminutesmore, the half-brother to former NZ 3YO mile record-holder, Kotare Mach (1:53), paced Thursday’s trip in 2:44.2 (2:00.1 mile rate), quickening over …
EYRE I GO CHANGES STABLE
EYRE I GO TRANSFERS TO JEREMY YOUNG Eyre I Go, one of two winners last week for the Mark Jones stable, taking his seasonal tally to 26, will step out at Auckland on Friday in the Jeremy Young colours. “He’s staying up there for a while and he (Jeremy) is doing the work with him, so he deserves to be in his name,” said Mark Jones. Eyre I Go is bred to be above average being a three-year-old brother to New Zealand mobile 2600m record holder and 2017 Group One NZ Trotting Championship winner Eyre I Come (10 wins from …
Delightful Memphis wins at Yonkers
DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS EXTENDS GOOD YEAR IN USA Former smart Overport Lodge mare Delightful Memphis extended her North American earnings for the year to just over $US140,000 last weekend. Racing as Delightfulmemphisn, she made the most of the ace draw in a $29,000 fillies and mares pace at Yonkers Raceway, New York, on June 21, leading throughout to score in 1:52.4 (fifths). Delightfulmemphisn, racing for the Richard “Nifty” Norman stable and driven by Jason Bartlett, held by half a length for her sixth win in 17 starts for the year. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Memphis Melody has a best …