MARK HITS JACKPOT AS SELLER OF QUALITY BLOODSTOCK Burnham trainer Mark Jones, widely respected as a genuine seller, became part of a rare group to have sold a New Zealand Cup winner. Brendon “Benny” Hill has trained a two-time NZ Cup winner in Monkey King, and on Tuesday, his new training partner became part of a rare group to have sold a New Zealand Cup winner. Mark, a genuine seller from day one, could earn no better respect from industry speculators, than offering up Cruz Bromac and parting with him as a qualified but unraced late three-year-old in July, 2015. …
A Fancy way to head to the Oaks
After success for Elite Racing at Ashburton today, well-bred filly Fancy will head south next week with a couple of mates to tick off a run in Southland as Benny and Mark chase the Southland Oaks. “I don’t think it’s worth chasing Amazing Dream up north,” said Benny Hill after her Ashburton win. “So she can tag along with Silent Major and Burnham Boy who will head down for the $15,000 Nugget Final next Friday,” he said. The Bettors’ Delight daughter of Regret (by In the Pocket) is a sister to handy pacers Bedtime, Mundaka, Natural, Excellent, and Ragnarr. Birchbrook …
Four for Friday
Mark and Benny tasted success again at Ashburton winning two with Sioux Princess and Fancy making it four for the week. Last day of the busy Cup week for us is on Friday with four runners at Addington and Alex Park, perhaps led by Willison and a quietly confident Mark Jones. ALEXANDRA PARK, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15 RACE 6 LULU LE MANS (10, fr. 1609m mob) Maurice McKendry –“She is going to need luck from the second row draw, though an eachway chance with right trip over a mile. Her run last time was very pleasing.” (Mark). ADDINGTON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15 …
ASHBURTON THURSDAY
RACE 2 MAHIA (8,fr. 2400m mob) Sam Ottley -“On debut. Tidy trial last week though drawn wider than ideal on debut. An eachway chance in a handy little field.” (Mark). RACE 4 YUKO (7, fr. 1609m mob) Sam Ottley -“A bad draw but she is working well and hoping for luck in transit.” (Benny). RACE 6 SIOUX PRINCESS (10, UR, fr. 2400m stand) Sam Ottley -“We know what to expect. If she trots she can win this. If not, we’ll try again next time.” (Mark). RACE 8 DONEGAL GILBERT (12, fr. 2400m mob) Korbyn Newman -“Rated him a bit unlucky …
The Elite blueprint is to get back there – Benny
If you ask Benny Hill or Mark Jones what level they want to be at, the answer is not only obvious, but made rather clear. Benny has tasted success in the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup before, winning twice with Monkey King, the king of Addington. Add a second with Baileys Dream, a fourth with Power Of Tara (behind Monkey King) and Benny knows the kick you get being a headline act in the country’s greatest race. He has Skippys Delight in the $170,000 Sires Stakes Final tomorrow (Tuesday), but as a 101/1 outsider he’s realistic. Just a couple …
STU’S CUP DAY SELECTIONS 2019
STU’S CUP DAY SELECTIONS RACE 1 (5-10-8-12) Great bet to start the day. GLOBE TREKKER will have to step and think he will from perfect start point for him. Better than them if he puts best foot forward. $9.50 & $3.10 is a very genuine eachway bet. IDLE MOOSE looks favoured at 3200m, a good stayer and in the right form to win this. Must in every bet. MATUA TANA not reliable, but brilliant when caught in the mood. Win or bust type but too smart to leave out. The very genuine OVERZEALOUS will give 110% as always, she will …
Whittaker wins at Big M
WHITTAKER ADDS TO USA RECORD Former smart Mark Jones-trained pacer Whittaker notched his fifth USA win of the year with a 1:52.1 (ftfth) win at the Meadowlands, New Jersey, on Sunday afternoon (NZ time). Whittaker (6h Sportswriter-Anarchy, by Holmes Hanover-Honey Trap, by OK Bye-Precious Dina) was eased to fouth early from the ace barrier by top USA driver Tim Tetrick, but was out and running to the top at the three-quarters mark. He held in the home stretch by a length and three quarters to take out the $9000 pace for non-winners of $3500 in their last five starts. Whittaker, …
Big week ahead for the Elite Racing team
Mark and Benny will line up 15 runners between Friday and Tuesday, with more to come later in the week at Ashburton and Addington on Show Day. RANGIORA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8 RACE 3 MRS WASHINGTON (4, fr. 2000m mob) Ricky May -“She’s got a nice owner, a great guy would like to win one for him. An eachway chance here, didn’t really cop the track at Methven.” (Benny) RACE 4 SIOUX PRINCESS (9, UR 1, 2600m stand) Sam Ottley -“It’s up to her, if she feels like giving it her best crack than anything is possible. Hard to read her …
Mark Jones to drive in NZ Cup
Mark Jones doesn’t drive a whole lot these days – but as they say it’s just like riding a bike. So the call-up to drive Our Uncle Sam in next Tuesday’s $750,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington won’t be a problem for the former World Driving Champion (2003) despite being the veteran of just three race drives this season. Trainer Chris Frisby is staying with Mark on his trip across the Tasman with the gun New South Wales pacer. And though things haven’t gone right so far after two unsuccessful runs at Ashburton and Kaikoura, the white …
Skippys Delight ready for monumental task on Tuesday
Skippy goes into Sires Final with a runners chance from poor draw Barrier 14 and a whole host of quality horses in front of him makes winning next Tuesday’s $170,000 McMillan Equine Feeds Sires Stakes Final at Addington a monumental task for smart three-year-old Skippys Delight. But you can’t win if you’re not in, and after a very slick final 400m at today’s (Wednesday) Cup trials at Addington, at least there is a glimmer of hope. “It’s tough. They’re all good horses in there,” said Benny afterward. “You never know – he’s done a nice job to be in there.” …