SUPREME GEM RUNS 1:59.2 GRASS MILE Smart racemare Supreme Gem added another string to her bow with a runaway win first-up on a grass surface in the $9000 First Christian Cullen Canterbury Mares Speed Series Heat at Methven on Sunday, December 11. Luckily for Overport trainer-driver Mark Jones, a false start was called when she tangled in the score-up on the first occasion, but she had no problems in the re-run. Mark sent her to the front with 900m to run and she was much too good over her last 800m in 57.2s. The Christian Cullen-Flying Sands mare came …
Alex wins harness plus maiden
ALEX WINS HARNESS PLUS MAIDEN Burnham trainer Mark Jones showed good placement when Alex justified his $1.20 win favouritism to win a harness plus maiden, the Mainline Electrical Mobile Pace, at Forbury Park on Friday, December 9, 2011. Alex (3g Courage Under Fire-Alegria), the younger brother to former smart filly Alexis (1:55.9), racing as Glenferrie Alexis in Victoria, credited Mark with his 15th training win for the term. Alexis, the runnerup to Lauraella in the 2009 New Zealand Oaks when formerly trained by Mark for former Queensland owner Greg Brodie, has gone on to win 18 races and $225,583 …
Glenferrie Magic sidelined
GLENFERRIE MAGIC OFF TRACK Glenferrie Magic, who showed much early promise for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, is unlikely to race again. “At this stage she’s retired with problems in a hoof,” Mark said. “She was probably our best one, but is too good to risk,” he said. An embryo transfer by Christian Cullen from the three-year-old filly was taken off her in early November. “She’ll go to the vets to be treated for another six-12 months,” Mark said. “At this stage she’ll be a mother, which is frustrating. She was probably as good as any three-year-old filly this …
Waikato team win Drivers Series
BUTCHER/MITCHELL WIN DRIVERS SERIES The Canterbury team of Mark Jones and Dexter Dunn had little luck In the American Ideal Provincial Drivers Championship at Invercargill on Sunday, November 20, having to settle for fifth. The Waikato pairing of David Butcher and Todd Mitchell were decisive winners, accumulating 31 points. Butcher and Mitchell won three of the five invited drivers races _ the former scoring with Simply Genius and Arancia _ and Mitchell with capable trot mare Larix. Butcher’s 21 points also made him the individual champion, finishing well clear of runnerup, Southland’s Jonny Cox with 17. The Auckland team …
Provincial Drivers Champ _ Sunday
MARK RETURNS FOR PROVINCIAL DRIVERS SERIES Another great line up, featuring many of New Zealand’s best harness racing reinsmen, has been assembled for the American Ideal Provincial Drivers Championship at Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill this Sunday (November 20). Each region is represented where possible by their top two drivers from the previous year’s premiership, a format that ensures a star studded line up each year. Southland is the current champion, the duo of Nathan Williamson and Brent Barclay taking the title for the home team last year. This season Williamson returns with Jonny Cox to represent …
Yearling Sales races go up
YEARLING SALE RACES INCREASE Having reviewed the budget figures, the N.Z. Sires Stakes Board is pleased to announce the following stake increases for the harness racing PGG Wrightson Yearling Sales three-year-old division for this season. 3 Y.O. Open Pace ATC December 31 $250,000 to $275,000 3 Y.O. Fillies NZMTC February 4 $150,000 to $200,000 3 Y.O. Trotters Rang @ Add March 1 $70,000 to $85,000 The increases, which are relative to each pool, ensure that the Sales Series races remain in the top echelon of race stakes for three year olds within Australasia. Courtesy of Doreen Graham, Secretary/Manager NZ …
Sarkozy sold to WA
SARKOZY SOLD TO WEST AUSTRALIA Sarkozy, distinctive in his Canterbury racing last term with his bold white nose, has been sold out of the Mark Jones stable to race from the West Australian stables of Justin Prentice. The 4YO McArdle-Oh So Precious gelding made useful progress through the grades winning three of seven starts last season, banking $13,709 for owners Frances and Max Bowden, and Max’s son Lyndon. His last win was in a strong 3:17.4 for the stand start 2600m at Rangiora on May 8, running his last 800m in 57.9s to win comfortably. He had …
Ohoka Texas . . . 1:54.1
OHOKA TEXAS WINS WINTON MILE Ohoka Texas raced up to expectations for Overport trainer Mark Jones, and junior driver Regan Todd, in his Winton debut on Sunday, October 16, equalling the track mile mark of 1:54.1. The Christian Cullen-Millwood Touche entire blazed over his final 800m in 54.8s and his closing 400m in a sizzling 26.7s to equal Nuclear Byrd’s mile when trained by the late Eric Ryan in December 1997 _ then the NZ mile record. Auckland Reactor subsequently lowered the NZ male mile mark to 1:52.9 at Ashburton in February. Former top mare Kiwi Ingenuity …
Ohoka Texas wins workout
OHOKA TEXAS WINS HEAT Ohoka Texas will head to Winton next Sunday, October 16, on the back of two smart workout wins since teaming up with Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones. The Christian Cullen-Millwood Touche entire is set to contest a 2-3 win junior drivers race over 1609m, with Regan Todd to steer the 4YO in search of a first-up penalty-free handicapping win. Ohoka Texas resumes on a 3-win assessment, having already scored three penalty-free 3YO handicap concession wins last term. He moved up in the open over the final lap and was a nose …
Bob plays iron horse
BABES BOY BOB OUTSTAYS RIVALS Babes Boy Bob, who played the iron horse over the final lap to win at Methven on Sunday, October 9, will try and keep his good form going in a 5-win front race over 2400m at Ashburton on Labour Day. Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones says Babes Boy Bob found the right race last week. Babes Boy Bob, owned in Melbourne by Merv and Meg Butterworth, backed up a good third to NZ Cup nominee Terror To Love at Addington with a comfortable 1 1/4 lengths win at Methven. After starting off 10m …