MARLBOROUGH HRC, Sunday, January 25 Race 3: ZENA MAC (2, Wayne Higgs), mob. 2300m: “Finished well the first day and looks a good chance if she stays handy.” Race 4: CORINGA DELIGHT (7, Wayne Higgs), mob. 2300m: “Locked stays down the back and lost interest afterwards. Capable of better with the right luck. Race 5: CHARMING LAVRA (9, Blair Orange), 2700m std: “Began good and was solid behind Kowhai Sunrise on Friday. A chance again if she settles handy.” Race 7: KOWHAI SUNRISE (5, Mark), UR 1, & ASTRAPI (9, Kimberly Butt), 3, 10m, 2700m std: “Kowhai Sunrise raced great …
BANKS PEN, MARLBOROUGH, IN’GILL, JAN 22-24
BANKS PENINSULA TC, Thursday, January 22 Race 4: BETTOR LUCK (17, Michelle Neilson), mob. 2000m: “Raced well at Nelson but back to a mobile and drawn terrible. Chance with luck.” Race 6: ZAKSPATROL (10, Kimberly Butt), 2170m std: “Racing good and this suits him well. If he steps and stays handy he’ll be a strong chance.” Race 10: TWICE THE DELIGHT (1, Kimberly Butt), mob. 2000m: “Paid the price for being slow away over 2000m last start. Better drawn but is a strong field. An each-way chance.” MARLBOROUGH HRC, Friday, January 23 Race 3: ZENA MAC (3, Wayne Higgs) & …
Rocker Band could contest NSW Oaks
IMPRESSIVE INVERCARGILL WINNER TO CHASE RICHES Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones is considering the $A200,000 New South Wales Oaks for exciting filly Rocker Band. The NSW Oaks have $A20,000 heats scheduled at Menangle on February 21, with the final on March 1. “Greg Brodie (Queensland owner) is keen on her to go for it,” said trainer Mark Jones. “First, we have to see if we pay the late payment for the Nevele R Fillies Series. We’ll be guided by Ricky (May’s) thoughts but it looks like we’ll pay it,” he said. Rocker Band, the daughter of Rocknroll Hanover and 2005 …
NZ METRO TC, Jan 16 & OAMARU HRC, Jan 18
NZ METRO TC, Friday, January 16 Race 1: CHAMPAGNE DREAMS (12, Blair Orange), mob. 1950m: “Drawn terrible again in a tough field but I am happy with her and she’s a chance with the right run.” Race 3: PERISSA (3, Mark), mob. 1609m: “Is racing great and drawn to go forward. Should be a strong chance.” Race 9: ASTRAPI (10, Mark), mob. 1950m: “Getting up in grade but is racing good. Will need luck from the draw.” Race 10: TWICE THE DELIGHT (9, Mark), 2000m std: “Better last start and this looks a good race for her.” OAMARU …
Nth Southland TC, Thursday, January 15
NORTHERN SOUTHLAND TC, Thursday, January 15 Race 6: ROCKER BAND (9, Ricky May), mob. 2200m: “Nice filly drawn terrible again but with any luck can win.” Race 9: EYRE I COME (2, Blair Orange), UR 1, fr, 2, 3200m std: “Galloped at trials so hope for mistake-free run. He may be a run short but he gets a head start on a few, so should be an each-way chance.”
Johnny Fox impresses with Nelson double
JOHNNY FOX TOO SMART IN NELSON CUP PRELUDE & CUP Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones could head south for the Group Three $40,000 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup (3200m) on January 24 with Nelson Cup winner Johnny Fox. “He’s going great. We may look at the Invercargill Cup or something like that.” “Its just a bit harder to place him as a six-win horse now,” he said. Mark Jones will attempt to extend a winning habit as a trainer in the Invercargill Cup, should Johnny Fox return south. Mark has won two of the last three Invercargill Cups, with Ohoka …
NELSON HRC, Sunday, January 11
NELSON HRC, Sunday, January 11 Race 2: LOUIE FINN (11, Blair Orange), 2400m std: “Solid the first day but shame he’s drawn the second row. An each-way chance.” Race 3: ZENA MAC (4, Wayne Higgs), mob. 2400m: “Beaten by the draw the first day. Should get her chance from the improved alley.” Race 4: BETTOR LUCK (7, Mark), 2400m std: “Went alot better the first day. If he backs up, we should be a good each-way show.” Race 6: ZAKSPATROL (10, Blair Orange), 2400m std: “Appreciated the downgrade on Friday and looks a good each-way chance.” Race 9: EASTBURN MARA …
NELSON HRC, Friday, January 9
NELSON HRC, Friday, January 9 Race 2: LOUIE FINN (1, Blair Orange), 2400m std: “Begins good and should be an each-way chance.” Race 4: BETTOR LUCK (8, Mark), 2400m std: “Made mistakes on the Coast so looking for improvement.” Race 6: ZAKSPATROL (12, Blair Orange), 2400m std: “Gets a downgrade and its harness plus, so with luck from the draw can feature.” Race 7: EASTBURN MARA (11, Mark), mob. 2400m: “Is owned in the area and is consistent. With a good run through, he should have an each-way chance.” Race 8: ZENA MAC (9, Wayne Higgs), mob. 2400m: “One that …
OAMARU HRC, Thursday, January 8
OAMARU HRC, Thursday, January 8 Race 8: STRIKE ON COMMAND (10, Michelle Neilson), 2600m std: “With a good trip he’s an each-way chance.” Race 10: FAIR DINKUM BROMAC (6, Kimberly Butt), mob. 2000m: “Didn’t have any luck on the Central (Otago) trip. From the front row and a good trip, we’re looking for improvement.”
WYNDHAM HRC @ Cromwell, Tues, Jan. 6
WYNDHAM HRC @ CROMWELL (grass), Tuesday, January 6 Race 7: GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME (12, Kimberly Butt), mob. 1800m: “She’s dropped a grade after running third at Winton. She’s been close-up in the C2 grade her last three and they went 1:55 at Winton, so she’ll be hard to beat in a C1.” Race 8: TWICE THE DELIGHT (10, Mark), 2600m std: “She’s alot better than she showed on Sunday. They did run a track record (2700m) and she’d had enough on the home turn. They shouldn’t go as hard in this and hopefully she’ll be better today.” Race 11: KOWHAI …