NSW FLYER CONFIRMS TOP RATING Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones was keen for new found Sydney star Cruz Bromac (p3, 1:51.6) to join a strong NZ stable but there were no takers. “Robert Dunn and Terry Chmiel were advised strongly by me to buy him,” Mark said. “I couldn’t believe they didn’t want him.” Mark gave Cruz Bromac a high ranking, saying he was one of the best horses he’d trained, even before he qualified last month. “They made excuses for not taking him but its their loss and Dean’s gain,” he said. Australian trainer Dean Braun didn’t even need a …
NZ METRO TC, Friday, August 21
NZ METROPOLITAN TC, Friday, August 21 Race 2: DERRINGER (3, Mark), mob. 1950m: “Got a bit tired on the slushy track last Sunday, so may have been the track. Racing good overall so hopefully will be better tonight.” Race 9: FAIR DINKUM BROMAC (8, Kimberly Butt), 7, 10m, 2600m std: “Place value in an open race.” Outside drive Race 6: FRANCO HARRINGTON (6), mob. 1950m: “Always been a nice horse and back to form at Oamaru. Looks a strong each-way chance.”
Kimberly shows good timing at Forbury
EASTBURN MARA LANDS NOSE FORBURY WIN An inch-perfect drive from Overport Lodge junior driver Kimberly Butt landed Eastburn Mara his second Forbury Park win on Thursday, August 13. Kimberly, now in her third season of racedriving, reined 20 winners last term. This was her first victory of the new term, with her career tally now reaching 38. Kimberly found the perfect one-one sit for Eastburn Mara and saved him for a home stretch dash. Angling wide turning for home, Eastburn Mara lifted when asked inside the final 100m to grab a nose win over front-running favourite Cerato (Blair Orange). Former …
FORB-AUCK-RANGIORA, Aug 13-16
FORBURY PARK TC, Thursday, August 13 Race 3: EASTBURN MARA (5, Kimberly Butt), mob. 2200m: “He’s in the right race and an each-way chance.” AUCKLAND TC, Friday, August 14 Race 5: ZAKSPATROL (7, Michael Blakemore), mob. 2200m: “Racing good but meets a much stronger field. Looking for luck from the wide gate.” RANGIORA HRC, Sunday, August 16 Race 2: DERRINGER (6, Mark), mob. 2000m: “Racing good and an each-way chance.” Race 3: STUOVER (8, Blair Orange), 2600m std: “Qualified at Addington on Monday (2000m stand, 2:34.5, last 800m 60.5s). Stepped good and did everything asked so a chance if he …
Team rewarded with good north winter stakes
REWARDING NORTH WINTER VENTURE FOR OVERPORT LODGE Although his owners have been the beneficiary of some Addington Met Multiplier bonus rewards over the last 12 months, Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones believes Addington need to do more with basic stake levels. After a successful winter north campaign, Mark netted just over $77,000 for his owners with eight horses. All, apart from Zakspatrol, have returned to Canterbury to freshen for spring racing. Zakspatrol is under offer to North American interests and is likely to head Stateside later this month. “Addington really need to lift their stakes,” Mark concluded after reviewing the …
Addington Alabar Super Series on October 9
ALABAR SUPER SERIES FOR LOWER GRADE PACERS & TROTTERS August 12 Following eight successful running’s of the Seasonal Super Series held at Addington, the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (Met) will stage a ninth Alabar Super Series on Friday, October 9, 2015. As well as some prominent trainers including Robert Dunn, Terry and Glenys Chmiel, Ken Barron, Tim Butt, Jamie Gameson, Nigel McGrath, Brendon McLellan, Cran Dalgety, Robbie Holmes, Brendon Hill, Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, Nathan Williamson and Phil Williamson cashing in, wins have been achieved by Peter Bagrie, Brian Fahey, Gavin Cook, Craig Edmonds, Alex Hastie, Barry Ford, …
Cruz Bromac wins at Menangle
EX-OVERPORT LODGE HORSE CRUZ BROMAC WINS AT MENANGLE Cruz Bromac (Falcon Seelster-Crown Defender), after qualifying at Timaru late last month for the Mark Jones stable, won second-up at Menangle, New South Wales, on Saturday August 8 in a smart 1:55.7 rate over 2300m. The Bromac Lodge-bred pacer was snapped up by Australian trainer Dean Braun four days before qualifying at Timaru when the runnerup to raceplaced maiden Dreamcoat in a 2:00.4 rate over the 2000m on July 25. Cruz Bromac then jetted across the Tasman and was thrust into action first-up at Tabcorp Park Menangle on August 1, running fourth in …
South-Waitaki race on Show day continues
SOUTH OF WAITAKI-TRAINED RACE CONTINUES ON SHOW DAY Last month saw the running of the south of the Waitaki River Series held over three heats at Addington and culminating in a final on July 31. The series catered for three-year-old and older pacers assessed at C1 at the closing of nominations for heat one, whilst being registered in the name of a trainer(s) based south of the Waitaki River as at April 10. Held for the first time in July the series was well supported with 32 starters over the heats and final. The Trevor Proctor-trained Tact Tate took out …
Harness racing to review club structure
HARNESS RACING TO REVIEW CLUB STRUCTURE August 10, 2015 At the Annual Conference of Harness Racing Clubs and Kindred Bodies on Saturday, August 8, Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) presented a proposal based on reviewing the existing club structure. This would involve a consolidation of the existing 45 clubs into a regional based model of nine “super” clubs. In presenting this, HRNZ Chairman, Gary Allen, said “current industry structures are not sustainable and change is required. Static industry funding, declining income from gaming and increased general costs have placed considerable additional financial pressure on clubs. Action is required to strengthen …
HR WAIKATO-NZ METRO TC, August 6-7
HR WAIKATO, Thursday, August 6 Race 8: ZAKSPATROL (7, Michael Blakemore), mob. 2200m: “Racing great but drawn wide in a strong field and fast front-line so will find it tough.” NZ METRO TC, Friday, August 7 Race 2: DERRINGER (13, Mark), mob. 2600m: “Was running on good last start and an upset place chance from a bad draw. Race 5: ZENA MAC (7, Mark), mob. 1950m: “Had very hard run last week so might have flattened her. Upset place show from the draw.” Race 6: PERISSA (8, Mark), 1950m: “Had another tough one last week but is racing good and …