OHOKA TEXAS NEW ADDITION Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones considers himself lucky to have been entrusted with last season’s smart 3YO pacer Ohoka Texas. Mark says the Christian Cullen-Millwood Touche entire is set to resume at the workouts on October 1. Ohoka Texas, winner of the Group Two $40k Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes Final at Invercargill in April in a 2:03 mile rate over 2700m (last 800m in 55.9s), may return south for a suitable 2-3 win junior drivers race over 1609m at Winton on October 16 in search of another penalty-free win. He won six from …
Supreme Gem wins Sept. double
SUPREME GEM WINS EARLY SEPT. DOUBLE Burnham trainer Mark Jones would ultimately like to take Supreme Gem to Menangle, New South Wales, for some mile racing. She would be suited to a strong pace over sprint distances there. However, her immediate plans were undecided after racing at Addington on Friday, September 9. Mark would like to give her some time off but at the same time he doesn’t want to change anything while she’s going good. The Christian Cullen-Flying Sands mare led and was always in control in the $10,000 Metalcorp NZ Ltd Mobile Pace at Addington. She …
Regan wins with Geo Star
GEO STAR WINS TIMARU MAIDEN Geo Star credited Overport Lodge junior driver Regan Todd with his second training win when she led virtually throughout to win the Norfolk Motors Pace at the Timaru Harness Racing Club’s meeting on Sunday, September 25, 2011. Regan, who prepares a small number on his own account, trained his first winner when Del Sur won at Gore on September 7, 2010. Geo Star, raced by Clemence Drilling Contractors Ltd, was too slick in the run home at Timaru, scoring easily by three-quarters of a length from favourite Four Needed, who finished solidly late. …
NZ Cup entries released
‘BUMPER’ NOMS FOR CHRISTCHURCH CASINO NZ CUP The NZ Metropolitan TC has been inundated with nominations for this year’s $600,000 feature. A total of 49 horseshave been nominated for the NZ Trotting Cup, a very pleasing number for Club officials. Harness Racing NZ Marketing and Communications Manager Andrew Morris says the 49 horses illustrate the resurgent strength and depth of New Zealand harness racing at the top level. He says when you look deeper the quality is definitely there with 10 of last year’s Cup combatants back for another try in 2011. Also eight of the 2011 Inter …
Anita Patron wins Tuesday race
STABLE WINS SIXTH RACE OF SEASON The Overport Lodge team notched their sixth win of the new term with their only starter at Addington on Tuesday, September 13. Regan Todd reined second favourite Anita Patron to a comfortable win in the 1 win Alabar (NZ) Ltd Handicap Pace for his first win of the 2011-12 season and his 52nd career win. After being on the move before the start, resulting in her being sent to the outside, Anita Patron made a ‘flyer” to lead early in the 2000m dash, before trailing Scherger Jack at the 1400m. The Badlands Hanover …
Jewel transferred to Melbourne
JEWEL SENT TO MELBOURNE NZ Trotting Oaks winner Commander Jewel flew to Melbourne on September 4, 2011, after being transferred by Oxford owner “Jim” McDonald to the Victorian stable of Chris Lang. Burnham trainer Mark Jones says he was very disappointed not only to lose Commander Jewel, but also not to be informed of the transfer. “I’m disappointed to lose the trotter and their other horses, especially after trying to look after Commander Jewel and give her time she needs,” Mark said. Commander Jewel, a big daughter of CR Commando, raced 12 times in Jones’ black and white colours …
Bob eyes country cups
BABES BOY BOB EYES COUNTRY CUPS Babes Boy Bob, the first of two early season winners for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones this term, may take in some country summer cups before heading to Sydney mid-season. “Bob went good at Addington (beating Datmymulligan and Floyd Mayweather on August 4, 2011), but not so good at Rangiora last Sunday,” Mark said. “He’ll race here for a bit,” Mark said. “With his stand start manners, we’ll look at the odd country cups, then in three-six months he’ll probably go to Sydney.” “We’ve got to keep his winning stakes under $15,000 …
Lethal Rocket shines in NSW
LETHAL ROCKET WINS MENANGLE DOUBLE Former Overport Lodge pacer Lethal Rocket notched back-to-back wins at Menangle in his latest racing for NSW trainer-driver Darren Hancock on Saturday night, August 21, 2011. The former well-performed Kiwi took out the $A17,0000 Number One Club Stable Discretionary Handicap (Class D). After leading out then trailing, he defeated fellow ex-Cantab, The Big Mach by 3.1 metres. Lethal Rocket paced the 2300m from a stand in a smart 2:49.7 (1:58.7 mile rate), the leaders quickening over their last 800m in 56.1s and final 400om in 27.2s. Former South Island squaregaiter Makarewa Sun also …
Sires Stakes 3YO Final now $200k
SIRES STAKES 3YO FINAL UP TO $200,000 The N.Z. Sires Stakes Board is pleased to announce that the harness racing stake of the NRM Sires Stakes 3YO colts and gelding final to be held on Cup Day, November 8, at Addington will be $200,000. In addition the stake of the Alabar Sires Stakes 3YO Fillies Championship to be held at Auckland on December 31 will be $170,00. The increase in the Group 1 subsidies has allowed the Board along with the host clubs to make an increase of $20,000 per Final. The Board will maintain …
Supreme Gem 2nd in workout
SUPREME GEM 2ND IN MOTUKARARA WORKOUT Supreme Gem could race at Addington on Friday night after running second to Hot Shot Lavros in a C0 and faster mobile pace at the Motukarara workouts on Saturday, August 13. After tending to over-race three back on the outer early, Mark Jones gave the Christian Cullen mare a bit of rein three wide beginning the final 800m and she was up measuring strides with front-running Hot Shot Lavros over the last 500m. Hot Shot Lavros (Blair Orange) ran clear in the run home to win by two lengths, with Supreme Gem holding …