NZ METRO TC, Friday, October 24 Race 1: ROCKIN CULLEN (2, Mark), mob. 1609m: “Fresh-up for stable but has shown a bit at home and trialled nice last week. From the good draw should find the front and be a strong each-way chance but there are few nice horses in there with race form.” Race 4: EASTBURN MARA (4, Mark), mob. 2600m: :Racing ok but in a tough grade but can place in this field.” Race 6: EXPRESSO MARTINI (2, Mark), mob. 1950m: “Looking to qualify for Silver as the blue with grey stars are too good in this field!” …
Upset Methven winner keeps surprising
TUXEDO MAX TENACIOUS AT METHVEN Tuxedo Max, who punched above his weight with an upset Methven win last Sunday, can’t find a new home. “He’s racing great. I can’t sell him and we don’t want a lot for him,” said trainer Mark Jones. A son of former Interdominion Grand Final, Hunter Cup and dual Auckland Cup champ Elsu (1:53.6), Tuxedo Max found some of his sire’s stamina to win from the second row on the grass last Sunday, October 19. Back early, driver Blair Orange sent the 4YO to the front 1700m out ahead of Graduate Under Fire, then trailed …
NZ Metro TC, Oct 17 & Wairio/Methven TC, Oct 19
NZ METRO TC, Friday, October 17 Race 1: MACHS A FLYIN (7, Phill Anderson), mob. 1950m: “Always a chance in these fields if things go his way.” Race 4: EASTBURN MARA (4, Mark), mob. 1950m: “He’s in a strong field but could be an upset place chance.” Race 5: EXPRESSO MARTINI (9, Mark), mob. 1950m: “Is drawn terrible again but raced good last week and upset hope.” Race 6: MASTER LAVROS (6, Mark), 2, 20m, 2600m: “Needed the run last week and if he does things right he will be very hard to beat.” Race 9: ASTRAPI (12, Mark), mob. …
Nineteen remain for New Zealand Cup
LATEST NEW ZEALAND CUP RANKINGS Further withdrawals means only four horses remain outside the cut-line for the $700,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup at Addington on November 11, following the latest rankings released by HRNZ on Wednesday, October 15. The latest to be withdrawn from the cup nominations are: Easy On The Eye, Jason Rulz, Maximan, Pure Power, Lets Elope, Classiesistar and Vice Chairman. Last season’s Harness Jewels 4YO Emerald winner Franco Nelson secured an automatic entry following his second to Terror To Love in last Friday’s Canterbury Classic. Latest rankings 1. Terror To Love 2. Christen Me 3. Franco …
Twice The Delight delivers on debut
TWICE THE DELIGHT REWARDS SOUTHERN OWNERS Aptly-named Twice The Delight passed her first step toward a potential Southland Oaks target in the autumn with a tidy front-running debut win at Gore on Saturday, October 11. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Trelise (Holmes Hanover-Twice As Good) was sent out a dominating $1.60 favourite on the strength of an impressive recent Rangiora trial and was always in control. Overport Lodge trainer-driver Mark Jones, who brought up his sixth training win for the term, dictated the front end from the three gate. After having former stablemate Rockahula Arden for company over the …
Gore HRC, Sat, Oct 11, TIMARU HRC, Sun, Oct 12
GORE HRC, Saturday, October 11 Race 1: LONGBEACH LAD (6, Mark), 2200m std: “We’ve only had him a week and looking for an easier option. A place chance.” Race 2: TWICE THE DELIGHT (3, Mark), mob. 1700m: “She is owned down south so thought I would take down for the owners. She’s a nice filly, who will continue to improve, but is a winning chance.” TIMARU HRC, Sunday, October 12 Race 2: CHAMPAGNE DREAMS (13, Mark), mob. 2000m: “Disappointed first-up as should have run third but can place from the bad draw.” Race 3: ASTRAPI (7, Mark), mob. 2000m: “He’s …
AUCKLAND TC & NZ METRO, Oct. 10
AUCKLAND TC, Friday, October 10 Race 2: POMME ROY (7, Brent Mangos), mob. 2200m: “Drawn wide in a strong field but an each-way chance.” NZ METRO TC, Friday, October 10 Race 5: MASTER LAVROS (10, Mark), 2, 20m, 2600m std: “He missed away and I wasn’t that happy with him last week. I have changed a few things and treated him and he has shown slight improvement. I was happy enough with his work on Wednesday and he should keep improving.” Race 8: EXPRESSO MARTINI (5, Bob Butt) & OASIS DREAM (7, Mark), mob. 2600m: “Its a …
Abettorpunt now 7th on NZ Cup rankings
ABETTORPUNT IMPROVES NZ CUP RANKING Victorian pacer Abettorpunt has moved three spots to seventh on the latest rankings for the $700,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington on November 11. The 7YO David Lewis-trained Bettor’s Delight gelding improved his ranking after taking out a Group 3 ffa at Ballarat last Friday for driver John Caldow in a track record-equalling 1:53.1 mile. Abettorpunt, a former runnerup to the ill-fated Sushi Sushi in the 2011 Australasian Breeders Crown 3YO colts and geldings Final, is now the winner of 23 of 59 starts for $413,117. He finished fourth from a stand …
Smoke N Grin stays south
SMOKE N GRIN TRANSFERS ON WINNING NOTE Smoke N Grin, who opened a winning weekend treble for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones at Forbury Park last Thursday, October 2, will remain south for his future racing. The Grinfromeartoear-Smoke N Mirrors gelding transferred back to Westwood Beach trainers Jonny Cox and Amber Hoffman after leading throughout the Dunedin Holiday Park Pace. He will attempt to further his record for the Cox/Hoffman barn, but steps up to a C2-4 win race, at Gore on Saturday. Smoke N Grin won second-up for the Westwood Beach trainers at the Riverton meeting at Invercargill last …
RANGIORA HRC, Sunday, October 5
RANGIORA HRC, Sunday, October 5 Race 5: TUXEDO MAX (4, Blair Orange), mob. 2000m: “Had his chance last Sunday but gets another good chance here.” Race 7: FAIR DINKUM BROMAC (9, Blair Orange), mob. 2000m: “Be looking for luck from the draw.” Outside drive Race 2: WHOOSH FACTOR (9), mob. 2600m: “There are a couple of nice maidens drawn inside him so not going to be easy from the tough draw.”