Training (winning mile rate in brackets) KAHDON _ 2010 $A50,000 G1 Victoria Trotting Oaks (Tabcorp Park, Melton) 2230m ms (2:03.4). SHEZONEOFTHEBOYZ _ 2010 $80,000 G1 NZ Trotting Derby (Addington) 2600m ms (2:02.3, NZ filly record); $30,000 G3 Hambletonian Classic (Ashburton) 1609m ms (2:03.5). CRYSTAL STAR _ 2010 $30,000 G3 Forbury 4YO Championship 2700m ss (2:02.5); 2010 $25,000 ICE Bloodstock Canterbury Regional Country Cups Championship 2600m ss (2:01.2). MY MAN DAN _ 2010 $22,134 Hororata Cup (Addington) 2600m ss (2:05.4), $19,981 Waikouaiti Cup 3200m ss grass (2:05), $25,000 Marlborough Cup 3200m ss (2:03.6), $15,000 Royal Hotel Cup Prelude (Marlborough) 2700m ss …
The Inside Word
THE INSIDE WORD FROM MARK JONES . . . RANGIORA HRC, Sunday, October 20 Race 5: ULTIMATE CC (8), mob. 2000m: “She ran on well first-up at Addington. Has a tough draw but should be in with a chance.” Outside drives Race 3: ELSAMBO (8), 2600m std: “Went good at the Rangiora trials for Regan but not as good at Timaru. I’m having a drive to evaluate but he’s better than he went first-up.” Race 7: MY ENTOURAGE (10), mob. 2000m: “Should be a chance if we have any luck from the …
Staff Profile
REGAN TODD Regan Todd, junior driver for the Mark Jones Racing Stables, has driven 61 winners, and also has four training wins to his credit. He reined his first winner _ Die Another Day _ at Addington on Friday, June 30, 2006, when on loan to Woodend Beach trainers David and Catherine Butt. Regan, who began working for Wyndham trainer Brendon McLellan, spent 3 months during the winter with the Butts’ in 2006, and the following year made a permanent move to Canterbury. After further experience with David and Catherine Butt, Regan was firmly established as a successful junior …
Mark Jones Profile
After conquering the world stage as a driver in 2003, Mark Jones is now applying the same determination and skills to reach the top as a trainer. Mark, hugely successful as a junior and open driver, is now taking on the challenge of becoming one of NZ’s leading trainers. Now in his 5th season as a public trainer, he has been quick to find top results in his training role. He trained five winners on a single night at Addington on May 1, 2009 _ Unqiue Star, Best Chance, OK Courage, Crystal Star and Alexis. This year has seen him …
World Driving Champion
Mark Jones claimed the biggest title of his driving career when he was crowned World Driving Champion in Canada in 2003.His late grand-father Derek Jones acknowledged the feat as one of his best moments in harness racing as he cheered Mark home to win the title.A throng of well-wishers turned out at Christchurch airport to welcome the world champion home after conquering the world. “It was a great trip where I met so many wonderful people, have made many friends, and winning the series was great,” he said. Mark produced the goods in the final round of the five-round series, …
Mark Jones Racing Stables
Welcome to the Mark Jones Racing Stables website. Mark, now in his third season as a professional trainer, has quickly risen to being among the leading trainers in NZ. A champion driver, Mark has all the attributes to also become a champion trainer. This website is here for you to learn more about Mark, his horses, and his staff. Please come back often for regular updates, including comments about his upcoming drives.
Feature Story
MARK/LAVROS TOO GOOD
Overport trainer Mark Jones edged one win behind former boss Cran Dalgety on this season’s trainers premiership when Master Lavros scored first-up at Addington on Friday, October 4.
Mark racked up his 13th win for the season, with Cran Dalgety going winless on the night, remaining on 14 wins.
Master Lavros, a warm $2 favourite for the 5-win and faster Coca-Cola Amatil Handicap Trot at Addington, had a perfect lead-up hit out for next Friday’s Group Three $25,000 Dr Cliff Irvine Memorial Canterbury Park Trotting Cup (2600m).
He had pleased Mark with winning both a Rangiora trial and a Methven workout
in this preparation.
The big Sundon gelding stepped straight to the front and was always in control for Mark, coming clear by 2 1/2 lengths to beat trailer Live The Dream and later closer Escapee.
The Kypros Kotzikas-owned Master Lavros stepped lively over the 2600m (stand) in 3:18.9, hitting out boldly over his last mile in 1:59.5 and quickening over his last 800m in 57s and final 400m in 27.9s.
Master Lavros, now five, took his career record to nine wins and three placings from only 17 starts, for $82,859 in stakes.
Stablemate debutante Ultimate CC (3f Christian Cullen-T K Swift) also shaped well in the night’s opener, the Air NZ Mobile Pace, unwinding well late for second to front-running winner Bay Emerald.
Turning for home, Bay Emerald was off and gone with Ultimate CC, locked up three back on the markers from an inside second row draw, doing well to get within a head of the winner.
Bay Emerald rated 2:00.3 for the mobile 1950m, picking up the pace over her last 800m in 56.8s and final 400m in 28.5s.
KIMBERLY SALUTES
To be a successful harness driver, you need to be able to sum up a race and make things happen.
Kimberly Butt did just that at her sixth racedrive at Forbury Park on Thursday, October 3, 2013.
Courtesy of a plum drive behind Saveapatrol, a rising star for employer Mark Jones, in the Dunedin City Ford Junior Drivers Mobile Pace, Kimberly didn’t panic when beaten out of the gate on the raging $1.20 favourite.
She had to be confident the Grant Hatton-owned Christian Cullen gelding would have a class edge on her rivals and the promising 4YO was up to the task.
After taking control with 1100m remaining, it was a case of being too big, too strong. She celebrated the occasion with a victory salute on the line.
Saveapatrol was inclined to knock off a touch near the finish but the winning result was a comfortable 2 1/4 lengths margin over Rock Of Tara.
The pacer was first-up since an unplaced run in the NZ Derby at Addington on April 5, but showed his superiority, rating 1:59.7 for the mobile 2200m _ the last 800m in 59.8s and closing 400m in 30s.
Kimberly, 19, daughter of leading Group One reinsman Anthony, and Karen Butt (daughter of former Chertsey/Ashburton trainer Dick Prendergast), has the pedigree of a winner.
Her brother Chris has been successful as both a driver and now a trainer in West Australia, while her uncle Tim has trained the winners of most of the elite races in Australasia.
Kimberly’s late grand-father Murray Butt (son of the late multiple premierships winner Wes), was also a successful trainer-driver, as was Murray’s brother Robin, father of Woodend co-trainer-driver David Butt.
Jenny Butt, Kimberly’s grandmother, is a daughter of the legendary trainer-driver Derek Jones, while Jenny’s brother Peter Jones, a former top junior and winner of two New Zealand Cups, is the father of former record-breaking junior and world driving champion Mark Jones.
Kimberly joined Mark’s Overport Lodge team in June after transferring from Mark Purdon’s Allstars stable at Rolleston.