ANITA PATRON FIRST-UP ADDINGTON WINNER Anita Patron provided Canterbury racecaller Mark McNamara, and an associate ownership group, including two first-time owners, with the perfect first-up result from the Mark Jones stable at Addington last Friday, July 22, 2011. The five-strong ownership team were over the moon after Anita Patron burst through along the sprint lane to win the Searells Chartered Accountants Mobile Pace. However Mark McNamara thought he’d ended up with a “dud” after his first meeting with Anita Patron at Overport Lodge eight days earlier. “She didn’t eat for the first few days and worked terrible the …
Bedlam wins in blizzard
BEDLAM WINS IN FORBURY BLIZZARD Bedlam, who had to combat a blizzard to win as a late 2YO at Forbury Park on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, will return to racing a maiden as a 3YO. “I was triple rugged up,” Mark said. “It was snowing in the preliminary.” The freezing temperatures were a complete contrast to the summer weather he experienced on a recent trip to France, where he had a day which reached 38 degrees celsius. Mark is to turn Bedlam out for six weeks after the rising 3YO son of Washington V C led throughout to …
Jamieson wins 2nd WDC title
JODY JAMIESON WINS 2011 WORLD DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP The 2011 World Driving Champion was decided at Yonkers Raceway in New York on Saturday, August 6 (NZ time), with the night belonging to Canadian Jody Jamieson. Jamieson won three at the Meadowlands on Friday (NZ time), and another two at Yonkers on the final day, to claim the win with a race to go in the final round of heats. The first race went the way of Corey Callahan, making it the third time in this series he has kicked of the round with a win. Driving Mojarra Hanover, he took …
NZMTC announce stake rises
NZ METRO TC ANN0UNCE STAKE ENHANCEMENTS The NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) have announced a range of enhancements to its basic stakes structure, commencing from Friday August 26. Basic stakes will increase handsomely at Friday night fixtures. Three-win and faster races will carry a stake of $12,500, with 1-2 win front races to be run for $10,000 and maidens for $8000. “This represents a significant increase in basic stake levels at our Friday night fixtures,” said Addington Raceay CEO Shane Gloury. “This basic stakes structure wil apply to all of our Friday night meetings, except for October 21, …
Nevele R standing Tintin in America
TINTIN IN AMERICA AT PREBBLETON One of New Zealand’s fastest pacers, Tintin In America, is to stand at Nevele R Stud this coming breeding season. The recently retired pacer forged an outstanding record over three seasons of racing, winning at Group One level at two, three and four years of age. The 6yo son of McArdle won five Group One races in total, including two Harness Jewels’ and an Australasian 3YO Breeders Crown Final. His other Group One victories came in the NZ Sires Stakes 2YO Series Final and the NZ Messenger Championship. All up the former NZ …
Change Of luck for Syndicate
CHANGE OF LUCK FOR SYNDICATE Tiz Tough’s minor upset win in the Speciality Spit Roasts Catering Company Mobile Pace at Addington on Friday, July 15, brought a welcome change of luck for the Red and Blue Syndicate. They leased a half-share in the Falcon Seelster filly last November after having little luck with their previous ventures. They race her with Nelson co-owner Peter Fry. Trainer Mark Jones thought she may have been an early winner after qualifying in a useful 2:31.8 for the mobile 2000m at Addington in November, but she has taken a few months to toughen up. …
Carabella NZ Horse of the Year
CARABELLA . . . HARNESS HORSE OF THE YEAR Carabella became only the third 3YO pacing fillly to be crowned NZ Harness Horse of the Year at the annual awards dinner in Christchurch on Saturday July 23, 2011. The Brendon “Benny” Hill-trained daughter of Bettor’s Delight and the Artsplace mare Andress Blue Chip joined former stand-outs of her sex, Elect To Love (2002) and Bonnie Frost (1970), as the only fillies to earn the top award. When Bonnie Frost beat the best there were no individual age group categories. The only 3YO boys to have taken out the top …
Jellignite birngs up 50 for season
JELLIGNITE BRINGS UP 50 WINS FOR SEASON Mark Jones Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones never envisaged having the horsepower to train 50 winners this term, but Mark and his staff were rewarded for a strong all-round effort to achieve the feat at Rangiora on Saturday, July 16. Even following Mark’s winter sojourn to France earlier this month, he was doubtful whether they would get the half-century. “You wonder where they all come from. If you’d said to me at the start of the season we’d get to 50 wins, I wouldn’t have believed it,” he said. A top drive …
Village Anvil fortuitous winner
VILLAGE ANVIL FORTUITOUS WINNER Village Anvil fortuitously delivered as a $2 favourite in the Washington VC Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace at Forbury on July 1. Village Anvil held her maiden win despite tangling when trailing at the 900m, checking the trailing Simply Genius. The stewards dismissed the inquiry after Village Anvil recovered to run down Anita Patron by a neck in a 2:01.4 mile rate for the 1700m. Village Anvil’s stablemate Courage Talks, who was racing outside Village Anvil when she broke at the 900m, held third for driver Regan Todd. “We made things a bit harder for …
Lively Eastburn qualifies
LIVELY EASTBURN 2YO QUALIFIER Lively Eastburn, who qualified finishing second in a respectable 2:32.6 for the mobile 2000m at Rangiora on Wednesday, July 6, may have only one two-year-old start then be given time to develop. “This was only his second time off the place,” said trainer Mark Jones. After trailing Woodlea Legend (2g Grinfromeartoear-Secacus), Lively Eastburn challenged early in the run home and wasn’t extended, being beaten by a length and a half in a 2:02.5 mile rate for the 2000m. The leaders quickened over their last 800m in 58.5s and final 400m in 28s. “He went up …