NZ METRO TC, Friday, February 1 Race 5: MICHELLE (1, Sheree Tomlinson) & SIOUX PRINCESS (10, Laura McKay), UR 1, mob. 1980m: “Michelle is up in grade. She’s racing good but this is a big test.” “Sioux Princess is back to mobile, which suits, and could place.” Mark’s outside drives Race 6: I’VE ALREADY TOLD YOU (8), mob. 1980m: “Drawn bad but a nice horse in the making. Will need luck from out there.” Race 9: TRACKSAREFORTRAINS (6), mob. 1980m: “Improved effort last start but is in a strong field.” GERALDINE TC, Sunday, February 3 Race 8: ROCK N JOY …
Master Lavros half-sister dead-heats in trial
HALF-SISTER TO MASTER LAVROS DEAD-HEATS Asteria Lavra, a juvenile half-sister by Angus Hall to stand-out stable squaregaiter Master Lavros, had an educational run at the Rangiora trials on Wednesday January 30. Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones led up with the Lavros Lodge-bred and owned filly, who was joined late by the Jimmy Curtin-trained and driven Zigzagzoo (Majestic Son-Letz Hope gelding). The pair finished on terms at the end of the mobile 2000m in 2:44.3, 2.3 seconds outside the required qualifying time. However, both two-year-old trotters hit out well to the line over their last 800m in 62.1s and final 400m …
South NZ maiden stakes rise
SOUTHERN NON-WIN RACE STAKES Following a meeting of the Southern Harness Programming Committee yesterday we would like to announce that effective today (Thursday, January 31, 2019) for the duration of the current season, all non-win (MR) races will carry a minimum stake of $10,000 (an increase from $8,000). This includes today’s Wyndham Harness Racing Club Meeting which has three non-win (MR) races carded. The $1500 bonus paid by Harness Racing NZ will be added onto the $10,000 stake. This is something Southern Harness have been striving to achieve and we hope that this will give breeders, owners and trainers renewed …
NZ Metro CEO announced
NEW NZ METRO CEO After completing a robust appointment process, The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Brian Thompson as Chief Executive Officer. Mr Thompson, who will graduate this year with a Master’s in Business Studies from Massey University, has been with Addington since 2011 and will take up his new role on 11 February 2019. He replaces Peter Jensen, who late last year was appointed as Chief Executive of Harness Racing New Zealand. New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club Chair, Brent Smith, said he and the Board are delighted to announce Mr Thompson’s appointment. …
The Bus second in Listed Final
THE BUS BEATEN BY DRAW IN FINAL The Bus fought gamely from the outside second row draw when second in the C2-5 $25,000 Hygain Golden Guitar Final at Tamworth, New South Wales, on Thursday, January 24. The Mark Jones-trained pacer settled five places back on the outer for driver Guy Chappie, then improved wide beginning the last 1000m to be parked outside front-running Queenslander, Im Norma Jean, over the last lap. Im Norman Jean (5m Modern Art-Lets Rocknroll), driven by Pete McMullen for trainer Peter Greig, didn’t relent over the last 600m, drawing clear to win by 6.5 metres in …
NZ METRO-INV-BANKS PEN TC, Jan 25-27
NZ METRO TC, Friday, January 25 Race 5: MICHELLE (14, Sheree Tomlinson), mob. 1980m: “Blew the stand start last time. Tough draw but with luck is an each-way chance.” Race 9: SIOUX PRINCESS (6, Laura McKay), 2600m std: “Won well at Nelson but this is a lot harder. Will be interesting to see how she handles it. Take on trust.” INVERCARGILL HRC, Saturday, January 26 Race 8: NAIYA FRANCO (6, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1700m: “Won well at Oamaru but in harder race. Hoping she keeps improving and an upset chance.” Mark’s outside drives Race 5: ARDENT LUSTRE (6), mob. 2200m: …
Millwood Tilly runs 1:57 in 2YO qualifier
MILLWOOD TILLY SHOWS SPEED IN QUALIFIER Overport Lodge filly Millwood Tilly, by three-time NZ Cup champion Terror To Love (1:51), and the first foal from eight-win mare Albuquerque (1:58.1), showed smart speed in her 1:57 (1609m) Ashburton qualifier on Tuesday. Driven by Sheree Tomlinson, she set a busy clip throughout the two-year-old fillies heat, only being caught late by close relative, the previously qualified Miss Ruby Sunshine. The Mark Smolenski-trained Miss Ruby Sunshine, who qualified at Rangiora on January 15, is by Sunshine Beach (1:47.4) from Albuquerque’s half-sister Miss Sunshine, the one-win McArdle dam of fast Menangle winner Mattgregor (1:50.6, …
MARLBOROUGH HRC, Sunday, Jan. 20
MARLBOROUGH HRC, Sunday, January 20 Race 6: LETS HUSTLE (7, Samantha Ottley) & ROCK N JOY (8, Laura McKay), mob. 1850m: “Lets Hustle led up the three wide line with Rock N Joy on her back the first day, but both just battled in the run home, so looking for improvement.”
TIMARU HRC-MARLBOROUGH HRC, Jan 16-18
TIMARU HRC, Wednesday, January 16 Race 4: MICHELLE (6, Sheree Tomlinson), 2000m std: “Manners were good and raced good down south. A strong each-way chance providing she begins well over the short trip.” Mark’s outside drive Race 6: BOULTS ON FIRE (9), 1, 20m, 2600m std: “Wasn’t too far away after being forced wide turning for home at Oamaru and drops in grade, so could upset.” MARLBOROUGH HRC, Friday, January 18 Race 6: LETS HUSTLE (14, Samantha Ottley) & ROCK N JOY (15, Laura McKay), mob. 1850m: “Both raced well on the grass over the West Coast circuit, but looking …
Sioux Princess related to Dominion winners
SIOUX PRINCESS FROM FAMILY OF DOMINION HANDICAP WINNERS Sioux Princess may never win a Dominion Handicap but will be a valued broodmare later in life, being related to Dominion winners, Marcoola, Amaretto Sun and Lyell Creek. The lightly-raced Majestic Son mare brought up her second win from only six starts when taking out the 3000m Club Waimea Trot in a 2:06.3 mile rate at Nelson on Sunday. She maintained a strong finish wide out to win by a length from Unique Marshall and Shpeedy. “I have got her to race then breed from,” said trainer Mark Jones. “She will just …