Mark and Benny send their first runners around together in partnership this weekend, kicking off at Methven, Friday afternoon. The new colours will seen on track after completion around November 7. METHVEN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 RACE 4 FINE BY ME (1, fr. 1609m mob) Ricky May, & MRS WASHINGTON (8, fr.) Sam Ottley -“Fine By Me may be on her last chance. She needs to offer something from this draw. Mrs Washington is working really well. She has come up nice again, drawn wider, or course,” said Benny. RACE 5 BEAUDIENE OVERTAKE (2, fr. 1609m mob) Korbyn Newman – “Also …
Memphis back with lovely trial win
Ricky May made the trip from Methven to drive Stylish Memphis for Elite Racing at today’s (Wednesday) Rangiora trials and headed home suitably impressed. May, who will be kept busy once the Mark Jones and Brendon Hill stable hits top gear, gave the thumbs up after a resounding trial victory, the filly in good order heading towards her first start as a three-year-old. “She felt really good – a bit keen first up – but felt great when she went,” said the champion driver. Stylish Memphis rattled through closing sectionals in a good overall 2:30.5 for the 2000m mobile, the …
Big weekend for Mark, success spread far & wide
Four wins at Auckland, Christchurch, Forbury, and Menangle Signing off on his own account, Mark delivered in spades in his final weekend alone with four wins on the board, three in New Zealand another in partnership with Aaron Goadsby in New South Wales. Jones will join Brendon “Benny” Hill in partnership this week, and was pleased to have some good success prior to the alliance beginning. Slightly better than expected was the vibe after a winning turn from last season’s smart juvenile filly Lulu Le Mans, coming from last to power home and win the opening heat of the Alabar …
Last week for Mark as trainer on own account
Mark will officially join forces with Brendon Hill next week and therefore sends the team around on his account for the final time this weekend – can the black and white’s salute? OAMARU HRC, Thursday, October 24Race 6: IMMORTAL CHANGE (10, Samantha Ottley), mob.2000m: Racing OK and not in the toughest field ever. The draw may make it awkward but she’s a place chance.” NZ METRO TC, Friday, October 25Race 1: JAMIES BAD BOY (8, Sheryl Wigg),mob. 2600m: Racing well, a good win last start, nice compensation after the Timaru gallop. Always tougher at Addington but he’s a chance. Race …
‘Bionic Mare’ thriving during comeback
By Paul Courts – National Trotguide
Cruz Bromac back to Allstars
By Jeff Scott Overport Lodge-developed Cruz Bromac is scheduled to return to the Allstars stables at Rolleston next Friday to continue his preparation for the $750,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup on November 12. Avalon (Victoria) trainer Amanda Grieve confirmed last year’s New Zealand Free-For-All winner is to return to the top Australasian stables of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen at Rolleston for the NZ Cup, the NZ Free-For-All, and the Auckalnd Inter Dominions in December. “He should arrive in Christchurch next Friday morning. The plan is for him to race at Ashburton on the Monday, so it’s all go …
Quiet week for Overport
FORBURY PARK, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 RACE 6 JAMIES BAD BOY (3, fr. 2200m mob) Sam Ottley -“He should have won at Timaru but galloped late, an expensive mistake. Raced good there so in this field from the draw he should be completive again.” ADDINGTON, FRIDAY OCTOBER 18 RACE 2 KOWHAI SUNDOWN (14, UR1. 2600m stand) Mark Jones -“He began as well as he has at Methven but unfortunately had a gallop soon after. Capable on his day but we have to get him trotting all the way. GORE, SUNDAY OCTOBER 20 RACE 8 ORLANDO MAGIC (2, fr. 2700m stand) Sam …
Texas Terror still winning
TEXAS TERROR PACES 1:50.3 IN USA Former Overport Lodge-developed pacer Texas Terror is still a money-maker as an 11-year-old in North America. The Western Terror-Alicia Maree gelding led throughout at Mohegan Sun Pocono last weekend in a $UIS11,000 pace, winning by three lengths in 1:50.3 (fifths). Driven by Antony Napolitano for trainer Jose Godinez, Texas Terror was racking up is fifth win of the year for just over $US90,000 in stakes. He’s also picked up six seconds and three thirds. Texas Terror, who has a lifetime best mile of 1:50.2 (10ths) has now had 34 career wins from 190 career …
Cruz 3rd to Bling in Vict. Cup
BLING IT ON SETS NEW VICTORIA CUP RECORD The “perfect horse” Bling It On put in a clinical, explosive performance to win a record-smashing Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup, capping a stunning comeback story. The 2017 A. G. Hunter Cup winner has barely been seen since that career-best performance owing to a bad fall and subsequent injury, but though fresh off a 10-month “retirement” and only second up he showed he had lost none of his brilliance in rounding up the Group 1 field. “He’s such a special horse,” said reinsman Luke McCarthy. “Everyone knows his story by now and for …
Plutonium Lady lively
PLUTONIUM LADY, BURNHAM BOY WIN AT GORE, SAM SCORES 400TH WIN Burnham trainer Mark Jones has always been a fan of Southern Harness racing. He loves to head south to set up his three-year-olds for both the Southern Supremacy Stakes and the Southland Oaks later in the season. In consecutive races at Gore (Saturday, October 12, 2019) he produced a couple of those age group pacers that look capable of featuring in both those finals at Ascot Park in April. Plutonium Lady easily won the $15,000 Ladyship Final beating hot favourite Need You Now by six lengths after leading and …