NZ METRO TC, March 31 Race 9: KOWHAI MONARCH (4, Samantha Ottley), 2600m std: “Is in the race to get a met multiplier.” Race 10: WHITTAKER (4, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1950m: “Been frustrating with workouts being called off so going in fresh. He may need a run and its a strong field.” METHVEN TC, Sunday, April 2 Race 3: MAJESTIC LAVROS (4, Mark), mob. 1609m: “Is unknown on grass like the rest but a top three chance if he does things right.”
Master Lavros resumes with Addington trial
MASTER LAVROS RETURNS WITH ADDINGTON TRIAL Top trotter Master Lavros returned to the Addington trials on Monday, March 27, looking bold again after a brief freshen up. The giant-sized Sundon gelding stepped safely off the 20m line for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, trailing the four horse field until Mark sent him to the top with 1500m to run. From there, he was enjoying his work in the easy conditions and drizzly rain. He held Royal Shine by two and three quarter lengths, with Kowhai Whiz and early leader Over The Love, chasing home the first two at the end …
Delightful Memphis runs 1:51.9 Southland record
DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS RUNS 2ND FASTEST NZ FILLY MILE Class filly Delightful Memphis warmed up for the autumn classics with a brilliant track record 1:51.9 mile win at the Wairio Trotting Club’s meeting at Winton on Saturday, March 25. The Overport Lodge-trained daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Memphis Melody became NZ’s second fastest 3YO pacing filly. Her time was only the second occasion 1:52 had been bettered by a filly, with The Orange Agent holding the NZ fillies mark at 1:51.1, set in the 2015 Harness Jewels Diamond at Ashburton. However, Delightful Memphis shattered the Southland fillies mark of 1:53.9, set …
Castlereagh 3rd 2YO trot winner for Lady Boo Kay
CASTLEREAGH BECOMES THIRD 2YO WINNER FOR LADY BOO KAY Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has a 100 percent winning strike rate with the 2YO progeny of Lady Boo Kay after Castlereagh won impressively at his third race start at Addington on Friday, March 24. Mark earlier produced half-brother Beau Brummell to win in NZ record time over the mobile 2000m of 2:34.4 at Timaru in 2011 as a juvenile trotter, while half-sister Arannalea won twice at two under similar ownership. “Castlereagh is a nice trotter in the making and didn’t have a lot of luck in his first two starts,” …
NZ METRO TC-WAIRIO TC-BANKS PEN TC, March 24-26
NZ METRO TC, Friday, March 24 Race 1: CASTLEREAGH (2, Samantha Ottley) & MAJESTIC LAVROS (8, Mark), mob. 1950m: “Castlereagh will benefit from the run but if he does things right he is a definite top three chance.” “Majestic Lavros is a nice horse in the making but still learning. Has drawn bad so take on trust.” Race 3: KOWHAI MONARCH (9, Laura McKay), mob. 1950m: “Gets in a good race with junior concession. Even though its a good even field he’s a top three chance.” Race 7: EYRE I COME (13, Samantha Ottley), UR 1, 30m, 2600m std: “Off …
Steven Reid declines Sydney post
STEVEN REID NOT JOINING MENANGLE OVERPORT STABLE Successful Pukekohe trainer Steven Reid has decided against joining the Overport Lodge stable operation being set up at Menangle. “Steven unfortunately said no but I respect his decision,” said Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones. “However, the door is always open for him or the right person to go into partnership with me over there,” Mark said. Meanwhile, the stable’s former Auckland Cup placegetter Saveapatrol made a return to the Rangiora workouts on Wednesday. He tailed the field but wasn’t asked for anything serious. “Everything seems all good with him. It was a very quiet …
NZ METRO TC-WAIMATE TC, March 15-17
NZ METRO TC, Thursday, March 15 Race 6: KOWHAI MONARCH (4, Samantha Ottley), UR 2, 10m, 2600m std: “Gets in suitable race and upset chance.” Race 7: DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS (7, Blair Orange), mob. 1950m: “She seems well but has a terrible draw.” WAIMATE TC (grass) @ Oamaru, Sunday, March 17 Race 8: ICE CRUSHER (6, Samantha Ottley), & AYMAR (9, Mark), mob. 2000m: “Ice Crusher gets his chance in an even field.” “Aymar also gets her chance even though she’s drawn bad.”
Whittaker back in Canterbury
WHITTAKER’S NORTHERN DERBY TILT ABORTED Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones ruled out a Northern Derby start for promising pacer Whittaker after his lead-up run at Auckland two weeks ago. “He was not happy the Auckland way so I’ve brought him home and hope to have him right for NZ Derby back here (at Addington),” Mark said. Whittaker, impressive in both Southland starts in late January-early February, copped the outside front row draw in a $30,000 3YO pace at Auckland on February 24 and ran on late wide out for fourth. He finished the race off solidly but couldn’t pick up …
Arannalea sold to Victorian buyer
ARANNALEA TO DO HER FUTURE RACING IN MELBOURNE Arannalea, a runaway 12 1/4 lengths winner for the Mark Jones stable at Wyndham on Saturday, March 4, was sold this week to Victorian interests. She has been withdrawn from the Northern Southland Trotting Club’s meeting at Invercargill on Saturday. The 4YO Pegasus Spur-Lady Boo Kay mare again showed her rivals a clean pair of heels when proving superior at Wyndham. In the hands of Blair Orange, she stepped well after a false start off the 30m line in a C0-1 trot, trailing early leader Pegasus Hanover then zipped clear with 950m …
NORTHERN SOUTHLAND TC, Saturday, March 11
NORTHERN SOUTHLAND TC, Saturday, March 11 Race 2: THE BUS (3, Mark), mob. 2200m: “Trialled nice last week and seems he is getting back to form so should be very hard to beat.” Race 5: EYRE I COME (9, Blair Orange), 1, 40m, 3200m std: “Racing super and off big mark but had to be a good chance.” Race 6: ELLAQUENCE (2, Mark), mob. 2200m: “Going in blind and this race is a few weeks too early. But she is owned in the south and she has the makings of a nice filly but will know a lot more after …