NZ METRO TC, Thursday, July 16 Race 4: FAIR DINKUM BROMAC (6, Tony Cameron), mob. 2600m: “He’s been going a bit better lately. Has a chance of running in the money again in an open race.” Race 8: PERISSA (8, Robbie Close), mob. 1950m: “Goose (Robbie Close) got on good with her last week. She should go good in a similar field with Valor Lustre the main danger.”
Saveapatrol to freshen for Hannon
SAVEAPATROL RETURNING TO CANTERBURY Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones will return top pacer Saveapatrol to Canterbury and freshen him for the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru in two months time. “There was no race for him in Auckland last week but he couldn’t have raced anyway as he picked up a foot infection,” Mark said of the Thames Cup winner. “He’s still getting over the foot infection this week so I’m not worried about starting him and the field is not guaranteed to get off the ground anyway.” Mark says the big Christian Cullen-Rondel Franco gelding can have a couple of …
Perissa top Golden Girls series hope
PERISSA SMART IN GOLDEN GIRLS HEAT; HEAT/FINAL TO COME Durable mare Perissa raised her hoof as a leading contender for the $11,000 Breeders Golden Girls Metro Series Final on July 31, with her heat win at Addington last Friday, July 10. The series is a useful winter target for the Art Major mare as she is eligible for another heat at Addington this Thursday, leading into the final. Perissa was at her best again, ruffling the winter coats of her rivals, with a positive drive in last Friday’s heat. Form junior Robbie Close made a play for the lead a …
Camb-Auck-NZ Metro-Oamaru HRC, July 9-12
HR WAIKATO @ CAMBRIDGE, Thursday, July 9 Race 9: TWICE THE DELIGHT (3, Brent Mangos) & REAL TORQUE (10, Kimberly Butt), mob. 1700m: “Will try Twice The Delight in front as has been disappointing.” “Real Torque is racing great and a good chance with luck.” NZ METRO TC, Friday, July 10 Race 4: PERISSA (7, Robbie Close), mob. 1950m: “Good effort last week and a big winning hope.” Race 5: EXPRESSO MARTINI (13, Blair Orange), mob. 1950m: “Having no luck with draws but a good show.” Race 8: SOMEARDENSOMEWHERE (2, Kimberly Butt), mob. 1950m: “Tough field but gets a Met Multiplier …
Saveapatrol back on top in Thames Cup
SAVEAPATROL WINS 2ND-UP ON ROAD TO NEW ZEALAND CUP A decisive return to winning form by Saveapatrol in the $18,500 Bayleys Coromandel 2015 Thames Cup hasn’t changed plans for the horse to cross the Tasman any time soon. “Its great to get him back in the winner’s circle,” said trainer Mark Jones. “A lot of the credit goes to Regan (Todd) for the work he does with him,” he said. Following the Thames Cup on Friday, July 3, Mark, and owner Grant Hatton, confirmed their decision for the horse to remain in Auckland this month. Saveapatrol made a smart beginning …
NZ METRO-AUCK. TC-TIMARU HRC, July 3-5
NZ METRO TC, Friday, July 3 Race 4: PERISSA (10, Robbie Close) & ZENA MAC (11, Wayne Higgs), mob. 1950m: “Perissa wasn’t right at her last start at Marlborough. Looking for luck from the draw.” “Zena Mac did well making ground late in her first C1 start last week. She’s racing super and always a chance.” Race 6: EXPRESSO MARTINI (8, Ricky May), mob. 2600m: “Had no luck at Blenheim and can win with the right run. Race 7: SOMEARDENSOMEWHERE (8, Kimberly Butt), mob. 1950m: “He over-raced when at his last start at Rangiora. Finds a harness-plus race but …
FORBURY PARK TC, Thursday, July 2
FORBURY PARK TC, Thursday, July 2 Race 7: HIGHVIEW ANWELL (7, Blair Orange), mob. 2200m: “We’ve only had him a few days after Regan (Todd) claimed him last week. Hopefully, he’ll race as good as he has been but probably just a place chance. His former stablemates, Onedin Mach and Starsky’s Dream, have been dominating these C3-6 races.”
Saveapatrol staying in Auckland
AUCKLAND PICKINGS FOR SAVEAPATROL NEXT MONTH Class pacer Saveapatrol is to remain in Auckland for winter racing after finishing seventh to former stablemate Johnny Fox at Auckland on Friday night, June 26. Saveapatrol, first-up for 15 months, had things go against him as the beaten favourite in the C3-7 Smith & Partners 2015 Winter Cup. “We have pulled pin on the Oz (Queensland) trip as he had to win other night to warrant going,” said trainer Mark Jones. “It was frustrating when he couldn’t get the front as it would have been good to give him every chance,” he said. …
AUCKLAND-FORBURY-RANGIORA HRC, June 26-28
AUCKLAND TC, Friday, June 26 Race 1: LANDORA’S GIRL (10, Mark), UR 1, & KOWHAI MONARCH (11, Blair Orange), UR 3, 2200m std: “If Landora’s Girl steps she is a big winning chance.” “Also, if Kowhai Monarch does things right he could win.” Race 2: POMME ROY (4, Mark), mob. 2200m: “Seems well but small field makes it tricky and Zach Maguire drawn one looks hard to beat.” Race 4: TWICE THE DELIGHT (1, Mark), & REAL TORQUE (4, Blair Orange), mob. 2200m: “Twice The Delight is drawn to get a good trip and can place.” “Real Torque is a …
HR Waikato, Thursday, June 25
HR WAIKATO @ CAMBRIDGE, Thursday, June 25 Race 7: ROCKER BAND (10, Mark), mob. 2200m: “Had no luck last week. Gets into this race good so should be hard to beat.” Race 8: OASIS DREAM (7, Mark), 1, 10m, 2200m std: “Good win last start but this a step up. Can place.”