ROBBIE CLOSE REWARDED WITH FORBURY WIN Successful junior driver Robbie Close advanced to 21 seasonal wins when he guided Reklaw Supreme to win at Forbury on April 2 for employer Mark Jones. Robbie was the South Island leader for the NZ Junior Drivers Championship beginning April, 10 points clear of Stevie Golding, with fellow Overport Lodge juniors, Kimberly Butt and Michelle Neilson next. He is currently second on the NZ Junior Drivers Premiership, four wins behind Craig Ferguson, who also gained experience under Mark Jones during winter stays in Canterbury. Robbie Close, formerly a South Aucklander, had stints with Michelle …
FORBURY PARK TC & NZ METRO TC, April 9-10
FORBURY PARK TC, Thursday, April 9 Race 1: ROCK TILL YOU DROP (2, Phil Anderson), mob. 2200m: “Got the draw and is in the right type of field to get some money.” Race 9: MARITIME ARDEN (2, Kimberly Butt), mob. 2200m: “She has a drop in class and an each-way chance.” NZ METRO TC, Friday, April 10 Race 2: ZAKSPATROL (5, Kimberly Butt), mob. 1950m: “Going around for Met bonus but racing below his best.” Race 3: POMME ROY (6, Mark) & EXPRESSO MARTINI (7, Blair Orange), mob. 1950m: “Pomme Roy’s trials have just been ok and I expect him …
New Addington winning post sponsor
NEW ADDINGTON WINNING POST SPONSOR Racegoers, event and function attendees and diners at our bar and bistro Spectators will notice a new design and sponsor of the Winning Post Area and its surrounds at Addington. Construction has recently taken place of the new Winning Post signage, which includes a brand new sponsor of the highly exposed focal point. Farmlands Co-operative has furthered their advertising with Addington by taking overall naming rights of our Winning Post. Farmlands Acting Chief Executive, Tony van der Hoorn says Farmlands is pleased to be able to support Addington in its Winning Post redevelopment, and to …
FORBURY PARK TC-NZ METRO TC, April 2-4
FORBURY PARK TC, Thursday, April 2 Race 1: LANDORA’S GIRL (3, Blair Orange), 2200m std: “Trotter with a lot to learn and big field makes it hard so take on trust but a top four chance.” Race 2: I GET AROUND (12, Blair Orange), mob. 1700m: “Been disappointing and drawn bad in a nice field. She’s better than her she’s been showing and with luck can get some of it.” Race 6: MARITIME ARDEN (7, Michelle Neilson), mob. 1700m: “Will be outclassed.” Race 7: ZENA MAC (18, Blair Orange), UR 1, 2200m std: “Racing good with no luck. A chance …
Master Lavros gallant 2nd in Trot Championship
MASTER LAVROS RUN DOWN BY FAVOURITE STENT An enterprising drive from Overport Lodge trainer-driver Mark Jones nearly resulted in a minor upset in this year’s $80,000 Fred Shaw Memorial NZ Trotting Championship at Addington on Friday, March 27. Lack of race hardening on the part of Master Lavros told in the dying stages as hot favourite Stent rolled home to take out the Group One and top $1 million in earnings. However Mark and Master Lavros made matters interesting. Master Lavros, having only his second race back since last November’s Dominion Handicap, made a gallant attempt for back-to-back wins in …
NZ METRO & AUCKLAND TC, Friday, March 27
NZ METRO TC, Friday, March 27 Race 2: ASTRAPI (1, Mark), 2600m std: “Racing good but this is a step up. If he gets an easy trip from the draw he can place.” Race 3: ZAKSPATROL (5, Kimberly Butt), mob. 1950m: “No luck last week but this is step up so may struggle.” Race 4: ICE CRUSHER (6), mob. 1950m: “Scratched.” Race 7: MASTER LAVROS (11, Mark), mob. 2600m: “The draw might work out ok. His work is good and I am happy with him.” Outside drives Race 1: VALOR LUSTRE (3), mob. 2600m: “Honest enough and might be a bit …
Terror To Love to be farewelled
TERROR TO LOVE TO BE FAREWELLED AT ADDINGTON March 24, 2015 Three-times Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Terror To Love will start for a final time when he lines up in the Group One $100,000 Breckon Farms / All Stars Racing Stables Easter Cup on Easter Saturday, April 4. He is a former winner of the race in 2013. “The King”, as he is known to many in the industry, lines up in this Friday’s Group Three $25,000 Gordon Roxburgh Free-For-All, before facing the starters tape for the final time in the Easter Cup over his favourite 3200 …
Nevele R Fillies Final up to $150k
NEVELE R FILLIES FINAL STAKE RISE The NZ Sires Stakes Board has reviewed the budget for the Nevele R Fillies Series and is pleased to announce that the stake of the Final, to be held at Addington on Saturday May 9, will rise from $140,000 to $150,000. There are two more heats left to be run – Forbury Park on 2nd April and Addington on 23rd April. Fight For Glory, The Agent Orange and Rocker Band are all automatic qualifers for the Nevele R Final with their heat wins. Both The Agent Orange and Rocker Band have won two heats …
NORTHERN SOUTHLAND HRC-METHVEN TC, March 21-22
NORTHERN SOUTHLAND HRC @ INVERCARGILL, Sat., March 21 Race 4: MARITIME ARDEN (13, Michelle Neilson), mob. 2200m: “Had a wee set back but is working ok and an each-way chance.” Race 5: ASTRAPI (6, Mark), 1, 10m, 2700m std: “If he does things right is a strong each-way chance.” Race 6: I GET AROUND (3, Mark) & SMOKE N FIRE (12, Michelle Neilson), mob. 2200m: “I Get Around has been racing a shade disappointing but from handy draw can place.” “Smoke N Fire is racing good and improving but is drawn bad. With the right run can threaten.” Race 8: …
NZ Oaks up to $150k
NEW SPONSOR FOR NZ OAKS March 17, 2015 New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club Chairman Barry Dent, together with New Zealand Standardbred Breeders’ Association (NZSBA) Chairman John Mooney, are pleased to announce that the Group One New Zealand Oaks will be sponsored by the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders’ Association. Over the last three years the NZ Oaks had been sponsored by the Canterbury Standardbred Breeders’ Association. Met Chairman Barry Dent commented: “We are delighted to have cemented this partnership with the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders’ Association for the New Zealand Oaks, a race which is so significant in many ways for …