FAMILY CREDITS CONTINUE FOR YEARLING BUY Bettor’s Fire, the uncle of this year’s $100,000 yearling filly Overport Lodge buy La Rosa, has surpassed the equivalent of $NZ1 million in earning. Formerly a winner of 11 of 30 NZ starts for $79,192, for Mark Joneses former boss, Cran Dalgety, Bettor’s Fire went on to be a big winner of over $A815,000 in Perth under the direction of Kyle Harper. Exported to North America last year, the evergreen Bettor’s Delight-Sparks A Flyin gelding won four on end. Now 11, he’s lowered his lifetime best to 1:50.1 (fifth) on a five-furlong (1000m) track …
NZ & AUSTRALIA, Sept 27-29
NZ METRO TC, Friday, September 27 Race 2: SIOUX PRINCESS (15, Samantha Ottley), 2600m std: “Still on the improve. Back to a stand is a worry but an each-way hope if she trots.” Race 8: WILLISON (5, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1980m: “Nice effort fresh-up but faces a big jump in opposition so take on trust.” NEWCASTLE (NSW), Saturday, September 28 Race 5: TAKARA TRUFFLE (10, Guy Chappie), mob. 1609m: “Is second-up from a long break so still on the improve.” Race 6: ROCK N JOY (10, Mitch Chappie), mob. 1609m: “Drawn terrible makes it hard.” Race 8: A GIFT FROM …
AUST. & NZ, Sept 19-22
NEWCASTLE (NSW), Thursday, September 19 Race 1: MY DESIGN (4, Guy Chappie), mob. 2030m: “First-up in Oz, and a winning hope.” Race 4: A GIFT FROM HEAVEN (8, Guy Chappie), mob. 1609m: “Is trialling up good and can win.” Race 5: ROCK N JOY (5, Guy Chappie), mob. 2030m: “Is in a tough field and will need luck.” Race 7: TAKARA TRUFFLE (7, Guy Chappie), mob. 2550m: “Fresh off after very long lay off, but won’t be far away.” NZ METRO TC, Thursday, September 19 Race 3: SHE’S A DAGG (8, Samantha Ottley), mob. 2600m: “Has been disappointing so needs …
Just the two this weekend
With a number of the winter runners spelling and the new stock progressing through their workload at home, Mark Jones has a quiet few weeks ahead with his race team. ADDINGTON, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13 RACE 1 SHE’S A DAGG (6, fr. 1980m mob) Sam Ottley -“Obviously a tough initiation to strike Cardinal Sin and co first up and no real easier here with the All Stars now back. She’s a nice filly but a rough place chance in this field.” METHVEN, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 RACE 5 JAMIES BAD BOY (7, fr, 2400m stand) Sam Ottley -“He galloped late at Winton …
Ex-Overport Filly Shines
LIBERTY ROSE WINS NEAR STATUE OF LIBERTY Former Overport Lodge filly/mare, Liberty Rose (5m Mach Thre-Lyse Doucet, by Holmes Hanover-Patsy McCreedy) continues to advance internationally. A runner-up on debut to Miss Ethel Sunshine in a 2Y0 Sires Stakes Fillies Heat at Addington in February 2027, she was sold after winning her maiden at Roxburgh in January, 2018, for the Mark Jones stable. She quickly found form in West Australia, winning five of her first eight Perth starts. She added another WA win before being American bound with around $90,000 in the bank and a 1:55.6 winning 3YO mark over 2130m …
Easy southern win for Plutonium Lady
Based on her formline Plutonium Lady should never have been paying $1.35 to win her maiden at Winton. But Mark Jones knew better than anyone those odds were probably a fair reflection of her chances, a 27.8 final 400m with the hood still on and driver Blair Orange unmoved quite solid proof. “She has always impressed me. A filly that I liked a lot from the start,” said Mark. “I think the way she won shows what she can do. We’re hoping this will lead to her being up to the better fillies later in the season and the Oaks …
The Bus stops of at Rasmussen’s
Big winner for Jones stable joins Kylie Rasmussen Last-start winner The Bus has enjoyed a week off at a spelling farm and has now joined the stable of Kylie Rasmussen in Brisbane to continue his campaign. The brother to Saveapatrol bowed out a winner for the Mark Jones-Aaron Goadsby stable at Albion Park on August 24, rating 1:53.7 for the 1660m. And he headed to Kylie Rasmussen on Monday, with some goals in mind if he fronts up to the big players. “It was a good time to send him to Kylie – I think she’s quite excited to get …
ADDINGTON & WINTON RUNNERS
ADDINGTON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 RACE 1 KOWHAI SUNDOWN (13, fr. U3, 2600m stand) Stephen McNally -“He’s back to the unruly after a couple of mistakes this time in. Needs to get that early bit right. Place is best,” said Mark. RACE 4 NAIYA FRANCO (13, 15m, U1, 2600m stand) Blair Orange -“She is trying the standing start. Has been quite busy and maybe just nearing the end of it this campaign. That Met Multiplier isn’t far off so she will pick that up eventually. Probably just a place show here.” RACE 10 SHE’S A DAGG (7, fr. 1980m mob) Robbie …
Three for Addington
ADDINGTON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 RACE 3 NAIYA FRANCO (5, fr. 1980m mob) Sam Ottley -“She went a better race last week but probably strikes a tougher bunch here. Some nice ones drawn inside her may mean she’s just a place chance.” RACE 4 UPTOWN LADY (11, fr. 2600m stand) Olivia Thornley -“Racing well. A tricky little draw for her. If she can get clear early and find a spot she’s an eachway chance in a very even but handy field.” RACE 8 IMMORTAL CHANGE (9, fr. 1980m mob) Sam Ottley -“She’s had a good winter. The draw doesn’t help a …
The Bus rates 1:53.7
He was left in the death-seat the entire trip but classy entire The Bus proved too strong for them again at Albion Park on Saturday night (August 25). He rated a slick 1:53.7 for the 1660m, wide to parked on a quick 27.6 opening stanza, then home in 56.8 to post win 15 from start 52 for owner Grant Hatton and the Trans Tasman training partnership of Mark Jones and Aaron Goadsby. The Art Major brother to former star pacer Saveapatrol has won eight races in Australia this season and $57,35 in stakes taking a 1:51.0 winning mile time at …