SHESACHRISTIAN SET FOR FINAL RACE CAMPAIGN Shesachristian, who resumes in the Keith Ussher “Architecture” Mobile Pace for 4YO and older mares at the Rangiora meeting at Addington on Thursday September 23, has a date with speed sire McArdle this spring. “She’ll be going to McArdle very shortly and will probably race on until after Christmas, providing her form holds up,” said Burnham trainer Mark Jones. “She’s done a bloody good job, winning over $100,000,” he said. Now six, the Christian Cullen-Achy Breaky Heart mare won a Sires’ Stakes Fillies Heat at two, then was a nose second to Natal Franco …
Peter Chambers increases involvement
PETER CHAMBERS INCREASES NEW ZEALAND COMMITMENT Jakarta-based Australian businessman Peter Chambers had a big interest in developments on the Canterbury scene in late August. Mr Chambers has confirmed he was the buyer, through agent Peter O’Rourke, of 2005 NZ Cup winning mare and 2005-06 NZ Harness Horse of the Year Mainland Banner at the Cullen Breeding Dispersal Sale on Sunday, August 29. On Saturday, Mr Chambers Burnham-based trainer Mark Jones stepped out two 2YO fillies owned by the major owner at the Rangiora workouts on Saturday, August 25. “Peter is sending Mainland Banner to Rocknroll Hanover,” Mark said. “Hopefully I …
Fast Ready To Run trial
COURAGE COLT FAST IN RTR TRIAL Marble Ridge (Courage Under Fire-Seacrest Franco colt) recorded the fastest sectionals at the Ready to Run video trial day at Ashburton on Tuesday, September 14. Trained at West Mellon by Macolm Shinn, Marble Ridge ran his 800m section in a sharp 54.9s, closing with a final 400m in in 25.8s. Marble Ridge’s dam Seacrest Franco, an unraced daughter of Live Or Die and Seafoam Franco, who has left the useful winners Franco Sandman (12 wins, 1:55.3, Aus) and Prince Of Tides (four NZ wins, 1:54.2, US). His grand-dam is an unraced daughter …
Aftershocks cause abandonment
AFTERSHOCKS CAUSE ABANDONMENT A major 5.1 magnitude aftershock in Christchurch on Wednesday morning (Sept 8) at 7.49am has led to the abandonment of Thursday’s Addington Raceway meeting. The decision to abandon the meeting was made by the Club in conjunction with HRNZ officials. Addington Raceway CEO, Shane Gloury, reported to HRNZ from the site. “Everybody here worked so hard to get the place ready to go after the weekend but this mornings aftershock put us back to where we were after the first quake.” “There is a range of issues that necessitated the abandonment. There is damage in many of …
Smart mares on the move
CRYSTAL STAR RETIRED, TELEMECANIQUE FOR USA The Mark Jones Racing Stables is entering a rebuilding phase with last season’s smart 4YO mares, Crystal Star and Telemecanique, on different career paths. Crystal Star, who won 11 of 40 starts for $148,406 in stakes for owner “Jim” McDonald, has been sold as a broodmare to Australian owner Peter Chambers.Telemecanique, who stepped up last term, jets out of Auckland on Monday August 30 for North America. She won 11 of 30 NZ starts, earning $102,839 for owner Dave Neal. “Its a massive loss out of the team with those two going. It looks …
San Fran Lady NSW bound
SAN FRAN LADY SALE CONFIRMED San Fran Lady’s sale to clients of the Keinbah, New South Wales, stables of Shane Tritton was confirmed on Thursday August 26.The in-form Live Or Die mare was very honest for Burnham trainer Mark Jones, winning three and recording five minor placings in 16 starts for $19,784 in stakes for breeders, Max and Frances Bowden. She was a good beginner from both stand starts or mobile and should continue with the good work across the Tasman. “Shane had bought two off me previously and both have done a super job,” Mark said. San Fran Lady’s …
Mainland Banner fetches $135,000
CUP WINNING MARE SOLD AT DISPERSAL SALE Former champion racemare Mainland Banner (1:55.1) was sold for $135,000 to Nevele R Stud’s General Manager Peter O’Rourke, as agent, on behalf of Peter Chambers, at the Cullen Breeding Dispersal Sale at Christchurch’s Addington Raceway on Sunday August 29. The realisation that the 2005 New Zealand Cup-winning mare can only have foals by embryo transfer was of no concern, according to Mr O’Rourke. “There is more chance annually to get foals with embryo transfer,” he said. A first-up consort under her new ownership will be top American sire Rocknroll Hanover, who has frozen …
Algeepee back in winning form
MARK TURNS ALGEEPEE AROUND Burnham trainer Mark Jones turned Algeepee around for the gelding’s first win for 11 months at Addington on Friday night, August 27. The former World Champion driver was in top spring form with a training double, also getting Jackaroozy home narrowly in the final event. For good measure, he also seized the initiative in front behind Raglan on the home turn to dash clear and hold the fast late finish of Stunin Cullen in the night’s feature, the $10,000 Vero Handicap Pace. “Probably a lot of things came together with Algeepee. It all worked into place,” …
Kiwis clean up at Breeders Crown
KIWIS CLAIM BREEDERS CROWN SPOILS By Brad Bishop Kiwis dominated the biggest day in Australian harness racing at the Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown day at Melton on Sunday, August 22, 2010. New Zealand had runners in five of the nine Group 1 finals and won four of them. De Lovely created history in the three-year-old fillies final, Devil Dodger led home a Kiwi trifecta in the boys’ version of the same age group and Paramount Geegee and Miami H won their respective trotting finals. De Lovely became the shortest-priced winner of a pacing final in 13 Breeders Crowns when she …
Mark picks up Raglan drive
WORKOUT WINNER SATURDAY . . . RACING FRIDAY Mark Jones, on four driving wins for the new term after landing Cheval De Triomphe home at Addington last Friday night (August 20), has picked up a nice catch drive for the spring behind the Tim Butt-trained Raglan. Mark reined last season’s Amberley and Northern Southland Cup winner to a head win over the Tim Butt-trained stablemate Cullen’s Creek at the Rangiora workouts on Saturday, August 21. The stablemates and another smart one in the same grade, last week’s impressive Addington winner Stunin Cullen, provide Tim Butt’s Premier Stables with three …