TABCORP AUSTRALASIAN BREEDERS CROWN BEGINS The 2010 Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown has commenced with the first heats of this year’s series run at the Rangiora meeting at Addington on Tuesday, June 15. (The first heat resulted in a ‘walk-over’ win for the Mark Jones-trained Commander Jewel as the only acceptor in the $5000 2YO Trot Heat. The daughter of CR Commando and In De Fence, raced by “Jim” McDonald, credited stable employee Richard Lee with his first official driving win. The 2nd $5000 heat for 3YO trotters was won by the Gerard O’Reilly-trained Endeavour Sunset by 9 lengths over Ali …
Crystal Star _ always a ‘star’
THE LATE BILL McDONALD KNEW SHE WOULD BE GOOD Oxford owner “Jim” McDonald can thank his late brother Bill McDonald (of Starship fame) for a final tip _ Crystal Star _ only weeks before he died five years ago. “Bill told me this horse (Crystal Star) was the best of the yearlings he had. He said Crystal Star and Rocket Star, would be real good,” Jim said. “Thats why I bought Crystal Star at the sales. I was going for Rocket Star first, but when I realised my sister’s grandson was putting his hand up, I wouldn’t bid against …
Kahdon untroubled to win Vict Oaks
EASY FOR KAHDON IN VICTORIA OAKS Mark Jones notched his 2nd Group One training win in feature 3YO trot features for the season when newcomer Kahdon delivered in the $A50,000 Dallas Building Victoria Oaks at Melton on Friday, June 11. The Burnham trainer-driver had only been the official trainer of Kahdon for only six days, but his experience in campaigning horses in Australia, ensured there were no hiccups along the way. Once he had an emergency passport rushed through last week, the rest of the Victoria Oaks mission went without a hitch. The former world champion driver had previously tasted …
Kahdon settles in perfectly for Oaks
KAHDON HEALTHY FOR VICTORIA OAKS START Kahdon has settled in perfectly at Craig Demmler’s Parwan stables in preparation for the $A50,000 Dallas Building Victoria Trotting Oaks at Melton at 9.42pm (NZ time) on Friday, June 10. New trainer Mark Jones says the Sundon filly hasn’t left an oat since arriving in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon. “I jogged her on the lead on Monday and Tuesday, then worked her over two miles in 4.55 on Wednesday. Hopefully thats all she needs,” Mark said. Kahdon didn’t require much work this week in view of her tough run for second to Vulcan in …
Mark & Kahdon for Melbourne features
MARK TO TRAIN KAHDON FOR AUST. FEATURES Burnham trainer Mark Jones was Melbourne-bound on Sunday, June 6, with exciting 3YO trot filly Kahdon. The NZ Sires Stakes Trotters Championshp and Northern Trotting Oaks winner joined Mark’s team after her game 2nd to Vulan in the $100,000 3YO Jewels Ruby at Cambridge on Saturday, June 5. The Sundon filly was vetted and her sale confirmed on the Monday before the Jewels by Jakarta-based businessman Peter Chambers, who also has Shezoneofheboyz in the Mark Jones stable. “She’s never ever going to go as good for anyone other than Paul Nairn. Paul’s been …
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Mark wins NZ Derby double
MARK ACHIEVES RARE NZ DERBY DOUBLE Mark Jones completed a rare NZ Trotting and Pacing Derby double in the same season in 2010. He became only the 6th driver to win both blue riband events at Addington in the same term, but only the 4th indvidual driver to achieve the feat. Former maestro Maurice Holmes won both NZ Derbys three times _ 1946 (Acclamation & Free Flight), 1957 (Alight & Tobacco Road) & 1960 (Winterlight & Student Prince). The only others to have won the coveted double are Jack Litten in 1955 (Regal Mile & False Step), and Mark Purdon …
Contact Us
MARK JONES, Business phone 027-232-8172. Fax 03-344-1361. Email: turf21@hotmail.com
Facilities
OVERPORT LODGE OPEN FOR BUSINESS The Mark Jones Racing Stables are now in full residence at a new property, Overport Lodge, the Grange Road, Burnham, property previously developed by thoroughbred trainer Neil Ridley. “We have 18 boxes inside. The property has 19 day paddocks, another six big ones in the middle of the track and about 30 all up,” he said. The 20.2 hectare property is in pristine condition, complete with an irrigation system for year long growth in the paddocks. “Now, I’ve …
Top Horses
SHEZONEOFTHEBOYZ Shezoneoftheboyz quickly reinbursed owner Peter Chambers for his faith as she dominated the early NZ 3YO trot scene through March-April of 2010. After learning she could be purchased for a substantial sum after winning her debut for West Melton trainer Neil Munro, with Mark at the helm, the wheels were set in motion. Mr Chambers, a Jakarta-based businessman of Australian origin, had previously secured speedy pacing filly Alexis out of the Mark Jones Racing Stables. He was in the market for another potential classic-winning filly when Shezoneoftheboyz came along. Mark’s former manager Stu Bailey, who in 2009 through …