HRNZ MEDIA BITES, FEBRUARY 5, 2012 Late bloomer dominant in Hunter Cup: Interesting to see that last week’s Hunter Cup winner Mah Sish did not start racing until he was a four-year-old. In that time he was developed by Dean Taylor, enjoyed good early success before being sold to his current owners for a big-ticket price. In his Australian campaign alone this season Mah Sish has banked an approximate NZ$525k. (Mister) Zion story of the week: Kiwi export (Mister) Zion truly won the hearts of many race fans last week when he beat Dr Hook in the Australasian Trotting Championship …
The Lutts wins $7500 bonus
THE LUTTS HAS WEEK OFF AFTER TAKING MET MULTIPLIER Busy pacer The Lutts scored a well-earned week off after being the big winner, despite finishing last, in the opener on premier night at Addington, February 1. Burnham trainer Mark Jones says The Lutts has earned a bit of “R & R” after clocking up his 15th Addington start since September (the magical number to claim the bonus) and his 20th start for the season. “It was good to support the Metropolitan Club after they put the money up for the bonuses.” “He couldn’t go with them on Friday but …
Master Lavros Auckland Dec. wrap
BEATEN BUT NOT DISGRACED A rise in the handicaps finally caught up with Master Lavros on New Year’s Eve, but the big Sundon gelding went down fighting to arch rival Stent. Rival co-trainer and driver Colin De Filippi made the most of his 10m start with Stent over Master Lavros in the 3-wins and faster IRT 40 Years Flying Horses Handicap Trot. He sent Stent to the front mid-race, with Master Lavros improving with cover in the running line over the last lap. In the run home Stent always held the advantage and inside running, but Master Lavros rallied …
Ohoka Texas syndicated
OHOKA TEXAS SYNDICATED Fast class pacer Ohoka Texas has changed hands and after racing in NZ until the end of January, will then look for opportunities in Australia. Ohoka Texas has been syndicated by Australian-based former Christchurch racing enthusiast Phil McHerron, after a proposed sale to North America fell through. The 5YO Christian Cullen-Millwood Touche entire will continue to race from the Mark Jones stable until his departure. Mr McHerron, who relocated to Benowa on Queensland’s Gold Coast in April, returned to Christchurch to finalise the purchase of Ohoka Texas for a syndicate of 10. He has raced horses over the …
HRNZ Media bites, Jan. 23, 2012
HRNZ MEDIA BITES, JANUARY 23, 2012 Kiwi onslaught about to get real in Oz: Some big names are already in Australia to compete for their riches but in the last week or so they’ve been joined by reinforcements. The first focus for ‘team kiwi’ is the Ballarat Cup and Victorian Derby heats this week. We have five horses battling to gain starts in the $200,000 Derby on 2 Feb at Melton. They are Ohoka Punter, Arden Rooney, Bit Of A Legend, Cyamach and Three Pints. The Victoria Derby heats will be run at 10.30, 11.02 and 11.30pm on Saturday …
Addington to run $15k maiden
MAIDEN BONUS RACE FOR ADDINGTON Addington Raceway & Events Centre and the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) are pleased to announce an innovative new year incentive with the running of the Pre Christmas Day Maiden Bonus race on its first Premier Night of harness racing in 2013. The race, on Friday Feburary 1, will be eligible for pacers who were assessed as non-winners as at Christmas Day 2012. Field selection will be based on points earned in all Totalisator races in New Zealand from 25 December 2012 up to and including 29 January 2013. Points will be awarded as …
Saveapatrol smart in Motukarara workout
SAVEAPATROL STRONG RUN IN WORKOUT Promising 3YO Saveapatrol stepped up at the Motukarara workouts on Saturday January 12 in preparation for his next start at the Northern Southland meeting on Thursday. The Christian Cullen gelding confirmed his potential with a 6 3/4 lengths maiden victory at Winton on December 22 for Burnham trainer Mark Jones. He was just as impressive beating multiple winners in the free-for-all workout, accounting for Monifieth, and well-performed mare Talaspring, back in Canterbury with Lew Driver for the upcoming feature mares races. Talaspring, formerly leased by the late Doug Mangos and back with her owner, was …
NZ Cup Week ‘Lavros” double
CUP WEEK ‘LAVROS’ DOUBLE Master Lavros confirmed he’s an excitement machine with a final mile in 1:58.9 and a closing 800m in 56.7s to win again with removable hood still intact at Addington on Show day. The giant-sized Sundon gelding made it a winning Cup week double for owner Kypros Kotzikas and Burnham trainer-driver Mark Jones. This time he again stepped brilliantly off the unruly to lead throughout, taking out the $14,999 Lone Star Riccarton Handicap Trot by 3 1/2 lengths from trailer Yankee One, stopping the timer in 3:21 for the entire 2600m. The $1.50 win favourite wasn’t …
Long Cool Woman wins qualifier
LONG COOL WOMAN RUNS CLEAR IN TRIAL Long Cool Woman, a three-year-old Extreme Three filly in the Mark Jones stable, qualified in style with a three lengths win at Rangiora on Monday, November 10. Driven by Regan Todd, the Paul Nixon-bred and owned filly trailed, went clear at the 600m, and was always in control from that point, pacing the the mobile 2000m in 2:33.5 (2:03.4 mile rate). The leaders quickened over their last 800m in 58s and final 400m in 28.4s. She won as she liked from the Tim Butt-trained Armbro Teehee. Long Cool Woman is from Oh Carol …
Winning treble with squaregaiters
SQUAREGAITERS WIN AT THREE DIFFERENT VENUES Burnham trainer Mark Jones advanced to 16 training wins for the season with a winning trot treble December 7-9 _ Master Lavros (Auckland), Commander Jewel (Timaru) and Juneamy Castleton (Methven) _ taking the stable earnings to $108,315 for the term. The team also picked up seconds with pacers, Suerte and Alex, at Timaru, and newcomer Cup Day Spur, in the 1-2 win trot at Methven. “They were all in the right races,” Mark said. A return to winning form for former New Zealand Trotting Oaks winner Commander Jewel was pleasing at Timaru after …