HOLME FIRE NOTCHES 2ND NEVELE R HEAT Holme Fire, first-up after a slight re-condition, claimed her second $18,000 Nevele R Fillies Heat, this time in the slush at the Hororata TC’s meeting at Addington on Friday, February 24. The Courage Under Fire filly seems better since undergoing a minor wind operation after she won the Marlborough Nevele R Heat on mid January, missing about 10 days work. She was sent out the favourite after a strong second at the Rangiora workouts last Saturday and proved too good on Friday night in the wet conditions for catch-driver Blair Orange. Orange …
Holme Fire 2nd in workout
HOLME FIRE 2ND IN RANGIORA WORKOUT Marlborough Nevele R Fillies Heat winner Holme Fire resumed from a minor wind operation with a handy second to Jackaroo Bromac at the Rangiora workouts on Saturday, February 18. The Courage Under Fire filly settled well in the trail for Scott Stewart behind Comply Or Die and finished well when clear for a neck second to Jackaroo Bromac (Wayne Higgs). The winner moved up parked over the last 900m and held over the mobile 200m in 2:32.1 in the 1-win mobile pace, the leaders running their last 800m in 57.7s and final …
Buzz Courage delivers as hot favourite
BUZZ COURAGE DELIVERS IN ADDINGTON MAIDEN Buzz Courage, who features the bloodlines of two of owner Greg Brodie’s most successful racehorses, registered the 34th training win of the season for the Mark Jones stable at Addington on Thursday, February 16. The win also put Overport Lodge junior reinsman Regan Todd into double figures for the term, moving to 10 wins for the season and 61 for his career. Buzz Courage, by former champion pacer and successful sire Courage Under Fire, is from Honey Franco, a qualified but unraced sister to another former Grand Circuit pacer raced by Mr …
Texas too good in Invercargill Cup
‘TEXAS’ SUPERIOR STAYER Burnham trainer Mark Jones has his sights set on a crack at November’s New Zealand Cup with Invercaill Cup winner Ohoka Texas. ‘Texas’ proved much too strong at his first race over 3200m in the $40,000 Ascot Park Hotel-sponsored Invercargill Cup on Saturday, January 28. Mark was in awe of the Christian Cullen entire for his tough race attitude following the win. “He went great again. He is an unreal horse that you admire for his racing style,” Mark said. Ohoka Texas tangled away, losing around 20m before settling, but after working to the front …
Telemecanique resumes in workout
TELEMECANIQUE BACK IN NZ Telemecanique, who returned from America to New Zealand in October, is just an outside chance to campaign in Sydney on this preparation. Burnham co-owner Mark Jones says he wasn’t that happy with her after she resumed the 2-wins and faster mobile pace at the Addington workouts on Monday, January 30. Telemecanique tailed the field throughout the mobile 1950m workout. “If she doesn’t improve with a few more trials she can spell and work back through the winter,” he said. “If she improves on this preparation she can race in Sydney.” Telemecanique, a six-year-old Falcon Seelster …
Holme Fire has wind operation
FILLIES WINNER HAS WIND OPERATION HOLME FIRE HAS WIND OPERATION Holme Fire, a 44-to-one upset winner of the $18,000 Nevele R Stud 3YO Fillies Heat at Waterlea on Friday, January 13, underwent surgery for a minor wind affliction on Tuesday, January 17. Trainer Mark Jones wants to have her at 100 percent for the big fillies races in the autumn. He was very pleased to qualify the younger sister to open class pacer Pembrook Benny (1:53.6) for the big Nevele R final in the opening South Island heat.“Its good she’s qualified so I don’t have to panic …
Texas wins Pelorus, In’gill Cup next
TEXAS FOR INVERCARGILL CUP Ohoka Texas, fast developing as a potential New Zealand Cup contender in November, will be put to the test over the extreme distance at Invercargill on January 28. Burnham trainer Mark Jones confirmed he will send the Christian Cullen south for the $40,000 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup on January 28. Ohoka Texas couldn’t have been any more impressive when he trounced his rivals by 7 3/4 lengths in the $40,000 Pelorus 4YO Classic at Waterlea on Sunday, January 15.After striding to the front with 1500m to run, Mark kept the pace strong with Ohoka …
Beau opens 3YO account
BEAU BRUMMELL MASTERS WET FORBURY Beau Brummell’s good manners led to his first 3YO trot win in unseasonal conditions over 2200m from a stand at Forbury Park on Thursday, January 26. Driver Regan Todd was happy to trail front-running Maple Twist, who led the field in driving rain until nearing the final 400m. Regan moved Beau Brummell out to pressure the leader at the 400m and he quickly had the situation in hand. Beau Brummell kept going to score by two lengths with Maple Twist just holding favourite Galaxy Hunter for second. The Earl gelding improved with two outings …
Saskia Finn enhances value
SASKIA FINN WINS IN 1:59.7 MILE RATE Improving filly Saskia Finn earned “black type” rating at her sixth career start when she rated 1:59.7 for the 1950m to beat the 1-win pacers at Addington on Tuesday, January 24. Saskia Finn responded to a perfect drive by Regan Todd, coming off a handy sit on the outer then switching to the inside to wear down front-running Motu Racy Girl in the Teltrac Communications Mobile Pace. The daughter of Artsplace and Maggie Finn ran clear to win by two lengths to notch her second career win for owners Mike and …
Western Flare to race in NSW
WESTERN FLARE LEAVES FOR SYDNEY Western Flare has been sold out of the Mark Jones stable and is to become a stablemate again of Lethal Rocket in the Pheasants Nest (NSW) stable of Darren Hancock. The five-year-old McArdle gelding left Overport Lodge the winner of three of his last four starts when placed to win at Manawatu and in Canterbury amateur driver races. He credited Trevor Ward with his first tote driving win at Rangiora on December 7, with the combination repeating at Addington in Western Flare’s NZ swan-song at Addington on December 20. Racing over mobile sprint distances …