OVERPORT LODGE SECURES THREE COLTS FROM 2ND DAY SALES Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones secured three colts from the second day of the NZ Premier Yearling Sales in Christchurch on Wednesday, February 24. He went to $30,000 for Si Si Senor, a Courage Under Fire colt from a Falcon Seelster mare for $30,000. The colt, from the Jubilee Park, Cambridge, draft is from the same family as smart Canterbury winner and last season’s NZ Derby placegetter, Brilliant Strike (p3, 1:57.1 mile rate, 1950m). Earlier, he secured Roll Along Styx, a Rocknroll Hanover colt from seven-win Fake Left mare Walk This …
NZ Premier Yearling Sales details, Day One 2016
NZ PREMIER YEARLING SALES DETAILS, DAY ONE, 2016 Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones secured a half-sister by Changeover to promising stable 3YO Ice Crusher (two wins from six starts) for $7000 on the first day of the NZ Premier Yearling Sales in Christchurch on Tuesday. Offered by Lindenny Lodge, she is also a half-sister to Shak’n Cuillen (1:58.9) and Dashing Stride (p2, 1:59.6), being from the five-win mare Helena Kilena (1:57 mile rate, 1950m). Sales details from the first day of the NZ Premier Yearling Sales at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch on Tuesday, February 23, were: 152 A/c …
Australasian Classic Yearling Sales details, 2016
AUSTRALASIAN CLASSIC YEARLING SALES DETAILS, 2016 Sales details from the 2016 Australasian Classic Yearling Sale on Monday, February 22, were: 1 A/c R G Garr, Karaka & D G Kirkbridge, Pukekohe: Ready Change (Br f Rocknroll Hanover-Changedown), Terry Chmiel, Leeston, $42,500. 2 A/c Wairau Farm, Raglan: Rubens (B c Art Major-Club Sport), B Purdon, Clevedon, $75,000. 3 A/c Mrs. R A Balle, Pukekohe: Kimkar Dash (B f Skyvalley-Cool Kahli, passed, res. $10,000. 4 A/c Croon Bloodstock Ltd, Auckland: Cooking With Gas (B f Bettor’s Delight-Cullens Counsel), Gavin Smith, Ohoka, $12,000. 5 A/c Breckon Farms Ltd, Ohaupo: Popcorn Sutton (B c …
Barry Purdon’s Start Dreaming stars
BARRY (PURDON) TAKES A TURN IN THE SPOTLIGHT A different Purdon, big brother Barry, stoke the show back from his brother Mark at Menangle on Saturday February 20 in the $A50,000 Robin Dundee Classic as his promising mare Start Dreaming surged into the field for next week’s $200,000 Ladyship Mile. Mark Purdon had won earlier features in the night with the likes of (Our) Waikiki Beach and Smolda but the Robin Dundee was always going to be even more hotly contested with the first four assured of invitations into next Sunday’s Ladyship Mile. And as they crossed the line it …
Arms Of An Angels draws ace in Miracle Mile
‘ANGEL’ GETS DRAW FROM HEAVEN Even an Australian record run by Smolda minutes later failed to take anything away from a barrier draw that will make this year’s SEW Eurodrive Miracle Mile one of the most keenly-contested in the race’s history. Former Kiwi mare Arms Of An Angel drew a gasp from the crowd and a cheer from connections when the four-year-old mare drew the coveted No 1 gate for next Sunday’s $A750,000 Group One. That should almost guarantee this will be the fastest Miracle Mile in history as her driver Lauren Panella looks likely to lower the handlebars and …
League hero Brett Stewart has NSW Derby runner
ZEE DANA THROWS DOWN NSW DERBY GAUNTLET Manly rugby league hero Brett Stewart has never shirked making a tackle . . . and now the pacer he part-owns, Zee Dana is set to do the same. The youngster threw the gauntlet down to New Zealand’s unbeaten superstar Our Waikiki Beach when he set a world-record time for 3YO colts and geldings on the way to smashing his rivals in the first heat of the New South Wales Derby at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday, February 20. Zee Dana stopped the clock at 2:51 for the mobile 2400m. A masterly drive …
MANAWATU-BANKS PEN-HORORATA, February 18-21
MANAWATU HRC, Thursday, February 18 Race 1: KOWHAI WHIZ (14, Matt Purvis), 1, 40m, 2500m std: “Ran into fourth the first day. A chance but looking for luck again off 40m in a full field.” BANKS PENINSULA TC @ ADDINGTON, Friday, February 19 Race 2: CORINGA DELIGHT (3, Wayne Higgs), 2600m std: “Racing well. Each-way show.” Outside drive: Race 8: NEED SUCCESS (2), mob. 1950m: “Upset place show if she stays handy.” HORORATA TC @ METHVEN, Sunday, February 21 Race 6: ANIKA LINDENNY (6, Mark), mob. 2300m: “Had her chance at Rangiora but went good. Looking to go one better.” …
FORBURY PARK TC, February 17
FORBURY PARK TC, Wednesday, February 17 Race 2: ARIADNE LAVRA (7, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1700m: “Nice filly in the making and still on the way up. Wide draw makes it tough over 1700m but doesn’t look a strong field on paper. Can feature with luck.” Race 3: COURCELLES (6, Craig Ferguson), 2700m std: “Off her game at Invercargill but can feature in an open maiden if she produces her best.” Race 4: DANKE (2, Samantha Ottley), 2700m std: “Heard The Whisper will be the one to beat but good enough to get some of it providing he trots.”
Owners required for prospective yearling purchases
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR UPCOMING SALES WELCOMED Group One-winning Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has identified yearlings for purchase at the upcoming NZ Yearling Sales and is seeking expressions of interest for owners to join the stable. “We’ll be buying at the sales so new owners are welcome,” Mark said. The yearlings will be developed with the prospect of making a profit for his owners over the next 12-18 months. Mark has a history of selling quality horses, such as smart filly/mare Rocker Band (1:53.5, seven wins from 19 starts for $66,472), who he sold unraced to good Queensland stable …
Rocker Band over-races & runs third in Championship
ROCKER BAND HAS TO SETTLE FOR THIRD IN $40,000 MARES RACE Rocker Band was so well she over-raced and cost herself a win in the $40,000 Garrards Horse & Hound Premier Mares Championship at Addington on Friday, February 12. However, the Mark Jones-trained favourite was far from disgraced with her third in a swift run after getting up on the nickel at despatch point. Driver Samantha Ottley eased Rocker Band from her wide gate but had to let her get on the three wide train beginning the last lap. Rocker Band crossed to the markers ahead of Lightning Mach at …