SARKOZY NOTCHES HAT-TRICK Sarkozy’s good manners from a stand again helped him to notch his third win on end at the Rangiora meeting on May 8. Mark had him handily placed handy on the outer over the first lap of the 1-2 win Goodwin Contracting Pace, then sent him to the front beginning the last lap. The promising McArdle gelding dashed clear turning for him and he did enough to hold late-closing second favourite Far Too Rusty by a neck in 3:17.4 (2600m stand), a mile rate of 2:02.1. Sarkozy ran his last 800m in 57.9s …
Ambulance donated by Racing Board
AMBULANCE FOR CANTERBURY The New Zealand racing industry has thrown its support behind the residents of Canterbury by donating a new St John ambulance to serve the region. Canterbury is recovering from devastating earthquakes and the donation of the new ambulance to St John is recognition of the organisation’s unswerving support of all Cantabrians in trying times. The new Mercedes ambulance, worth more than $150,000, will join the St John fleet serving Christchurch and the Canterbury region. NZ Racing Board Chairman Michael Stiassny said the Board and the three racing Codes – NZ Thoroughbred Racing, …
‘Magic’ Out of Sires Stakes Final
‘MAGIC’ OUT OF FINAL Overport trainer Mark Jones has been left with only one starter _ Holme Fire _ in the $170,000 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes Fillies championship at Auckland on Friday night, May 6. Stablemate Glenferrie Magic was withdrawn on Tuesday after suffering from muscle tie-up, the end result of waiting in Blenheim for three-four days then having a rough ferry crossing from Picton to Wellington. “Its a shame because she was as good as we could get her before she went up,” said trainer Mark Jones. Mark said she would have been very hard to beat …
Beau Brummell sets NZ record
BEAU BRUMMELL TROTS NZ 2YO RECORD Beau Brummell, the first of four winning drives for Burnham driver Mark Jones at Timaru on Sunday, May 1, surprised with a New Zealand record win for a two-year-old colt or gelding squaregaiter. The Earl gelding’s good manners helped him capitalise on a perfect trail to take out the Opihi Vineyard Juvenile Mobile Trot. Beau Brummell finished determinedly along the inner to wear down first-starter Another Love in 2:34.4 for the mobile 2000m, a mile rate of 2:04.2. His time was 0.4 inside the month old mark set by Flying Isa at Rangiora …
Master Lavros trots useful solo trial
MASTER LAVROS SHOWS PROMISE Burnham trainer Mark Jones may consider a start for Master Lavros in the $6000 Seelite Windows and Doors Trotters Silver at Addington on May 17 after a useful solo qualifying effort at Addington on Wednesday, May 4. He will also need to be nominated for the $60,000 Sires’ Stakes Championship at Addington on May 14 but is unlikely to get a start in the main event. Master Lavros, a big gelded son of Sundon, bred and owned by Lavros Lodge principals, Kypros and Mary Kotzikas, impressed catch-driver Blair Orange with the qualifying effort on …
Mark has two in final
MARK QUALIFIES TWO FOR FILLIES FINAL Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones scored top-end and tail wins on the Forbury Park programme on April 21 with Glenferrie Magic and OK Courage. Glenferrie Magic will join stablemate Holme Fire in the $170,000 Magness Benrow NZ Sires Stakes Final at Auckland on May 6 after scoring comfortably in a $14,000 non-tote Sires heat at Forbury on Thursday night. The P-Forty-Seven filly overcame the outside six barrier. “She sat parked over the last 1100m and won easy,” Mark said. “I was expecting Shezanelsu to be a bit of a danger but she galloped …
Smart 2YO fillies on move
SMART FILLIES ON MOVE By Stu Bailey Smart 2yo fillies Glenferrie Magic and Holme Fire head to different ends of the country this week. Glenferrie Magic will start at Forbury Park on Thursday night against five others in the non-tote $14,000 Magness Benrow Sires Stakes Heat, while ever-improving Courage Under Fire filly Holme Fire left her Burnham base on Monday for Gareth Dixon’s Clevedon barn to settle in for next month’s $170,000 Magness Benrow Sires Stakes Final on May 6 at Alexandra Park. Both had a good hit-out at last Saturday’s Rangiora workouts, with Glenferrie Magic clocked home in …
Commander Jewel trials solidly
JEWEL TRIALS FOR ADDINGTON Commander Jewel trialled solidly at Motukarara on Tuesday, April 19, in preparation for a return to racing at Addington on Saturday. The CR Commando filly was transferred to a non-win trot, starting off 20m over the 2200m trip. After beginning fairly, she worked into a handy spot on the outer turning for home and was not hurried in the run home to run front-running Lord Nelson to a head. Lord Nelson, trained by Murray Edmonds, trotted the 2200m in 3:00.6, the leaders quickening over their last 800m in 63.4s and their final 400m in 31.1s …
Jackaroozy sold
JACKAROOZY FOR NSW Queensland owner Greg Brodie has sold the diminuitive but game Jackaroozy to New South Wales interests. Trainer Mark Jones says the Courage Under Fire gelding is following former stablemate Atom Of Courage, after being sold to New South Wales horsewoman Ashlee Seijka. Atom Of Courage has won five of 10 starts since heading to Sydney, including a swift 1:54.2 mile win at Menangle on March 12. “He sat parked last week at Menangle and won again (1:59.7 rate, 2300m), so he’s going good for them,” Mark said. “The stablehands here are killing me for …
Fillies for Invercargill
FILLIES FOR INVERCARGILL Burnham trainer Mark Jones is heading to Invercargill on Saturday March 26 with promising fillies, 3YO Rockabella, and 2YO Glenferrie Magic. Rockabella, recently secured for Queensland owner Greg Brodie, was the star trialist at Rangiora on Wednesday, March 16. The qualified but unraced Art Major filly came from last of the eight starters to win on Wednesday to win a useful 2:30 (2:00.6 mile rate), being timed by her trainer-driver to go well inside 56 seconds for her last 800m. “I wasn’t going to pull her out but Ken Barron’s one galloped ahead of me. …