MASTER LAVROS WAITS FOR NEXT TERM Fans of promising 3YO Master Lavros won’t see the giant-sized squaregaiter racing again until the new season. Burnham trainer Mark Jones made the most of a penalty-free age group concession win with the Sundon gelding on the first day of the Marlborough winter meeting, Friday, June 15, 2012, before wrapping up his short winter campaign. “If I won another with him, it would mean I would keep going to try and win another after that,” he said. “I just want to look after him. I want him to come back in the low …
Tough for Holme Fire in Jewels
TOUGH FROM DRAW IN JEWELS Holme Fire, who performed as well as she could from her outside front row draw in the $150,000 Silk Restaurant Sky City 3YO Fillies Diamond at Cambridge on Saturday, June 2, has remained in the north for further winter racing with caretaker trainer Michelle Wallis. Driver David Butt eased her back to last early, then hopped on the three-wide train tracking up Cheer The Lady over the last 1200m. She fought on wide out for sixth, being race-timed in 1:55.8 for the mile. Fortune favoured the in-form Mark Purdon/Grant Payne-trained mare O Baby, who …
Qualifier under offer
LOVES THE SHOW QUALIFIES, UNDER OFFER Loves The Show, who qualified for the Mark Jones stable when running into third for trials driver Kimberly Butt at Rangiora on Tuesday, July 3, is under offer. “It was good to give Kimberly a drive to help get her raceday licence. She drives good and they got on great together,” Mark said. Loves The Show, a 2YO Bettor’s Delight filly named after the popular public response phrase to the weekly Australian racing show, Off The Rails, improved three back on the outer behind eventual winner Ajaye (David Butt) over the final lap. …
Suerte wins for Melbourne owners
SUERTE WINS PREMIER DAY, MAY 12, 2012 Suerte showed a good sense of timing to deliver for the Mark Jones stable in the presence of Melbourne owners, Merv and Meg Butterworth, on premier day at Addington, Saturday, May 12. The Butterworths flew to Christchurch after their former Southland trotter Knapdale girl was withdrawn from a feature trot final in South Australia on Saturday. They had a stellar day with a winning Addington treble. Didjamakem Bolt and Best Deal Yet, two other Southland purchases, now racing for the Mark Purdon/Grant Payne stable, were also in rampant form.Blair Orange, successful …
Rockabella racing well in NSW
(MISS) ROCKABELLA SHINES IN NEW SOUTH WALES Former Overport Lodge mare Rockabella has commenced her New South Wales racing on a strong note for Queensland owner Greg Brodie, notching an early treble. The 4YO Art Major-Calypso Beach mare was too good again at Bathurst on Wednesday, clearing out by 17.3 metres to win a $A5000 C1-2 mobile 2130m pace. Starting a dominating $1.30 favourite for trainer Paul Russo and driver Ashlee Siejka, and racing as Miss Rockabella in Australia, she settled back, improved three wide over the final lap and won as she liked. She rated 2:03.5 …
Jewels extended to 4 & 5YOs
JEWELS TO INCLUDE COMBINED 4 & 5 YEAR OLD CATEGORY At its meeting on 1 June, the HRNZ Board undertook a review of the Harness Jewels. In six years this has become an integral part and highlight of the harness racing season. For 2013, the conditions of the Harness Jewels will remain unchanged with one major exception. The 2013 Harness Jewels will be run at Ashburton Raceway on Saturday, 1 June. Current stakes levels of $150,000 for pacers and $100,000 for trotters will be retained, with nine races over a mile and 12 starters in each race. …
Jim Wakefield recognised in QB honours
FORMER HRNZ CHAIRMAN RECOGNISED HRNZ is delighted by the recognition of former HRNZ Chairman, Mr Jim Wakefield in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Mr Wakefield was awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his services to harness racing. Jim Wakefield represented the NZ Trotting Owners Association on HRNZ’s Executive from 2000 to 2010, being Chairman from 2000 to 2003. During this time Jim played a key role in promoting a number of changes, in particular the development of the Racing Act 2003 on which the current industry is structured. From …
Driving fees have $5 increase
HRNZ APPROVES INCREASE TO DRIVING FEES At its meeting on 1 June, 2012, the HRNZ Board gave consideration to a submission from the NZ Harness Racing Trainers & Drivers Association seeking an increase to the current driving fees. While cognisant of the increased costs facing owners and the decline in stake levels over the last three seasons, the Board believe a small increase is warranted. The Board noted that the current level of $65 (excl GST) has remain unchanged since August 2008 and in that time drivers would have faced increased costs, in particular from …
Grappa wins for syndicate owners
GRAPPA GIVES RUGBY STARS A BUZZ Several Crusaders rugby stars enjoyed an Addington harness racing success when maiden pacer Grappa won the Christchurch Casino Pace for the Mark Jones stable on Thursday, May 31, 2012. Stable supporter Stu Bailey set up the Crusaders On Syndicate, which includes Mr Bailey, flatmate Zac Guildford, Tom Marshall, Andy Ellis, Wyatt Crockett, Brent Ward and Tom Donnelly. Zac Guildford and Brent Ward earlier raced Saskia Finn for two wins from the Jones stable. Grappa, a 5YO Tinted Cloud gelding, was leased last month to race from the Jones team for the Crusaders On …
Forbury double adds to winning week
FORBURY DOUBLE ON THURSDAY The Burnham stable of Mark Jones notched their third and fourth wins inside the last six days at Forbury on Thurday night, May 24. The former world champion reinsman hasn’t driven any of them _ preferring to enlist some of his peers instead _ as he focuses primarily on the training side of his operation for a time. The stable advanced to 45 wins and $336,159 in earnings for the season when Alex and Superior Desire won the final two races at Forbury. Last weekend, Holme Fire (Addington), in the hands of Blair Orange, …