IMPORTANT DATES FOR NZ CUP & DOMINION HANDICAP This year nominations for the 2014 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup and Hellers Dominion at Addington will be taken earlier than previous years to increase exposure and to enable fixed odds markets to open mid-August. Nominations for both races will close at 3.00pm on Wednesday, August 13, 2014. Christchurch Casino NZ Trotting Cup – $700,000 – Group 1 – November 11, 2014 Initial nomination fee Wednesday, August 13, 3pm (NZ time ) $350 First late nomination fee Wednesday, August 27, 3pm (NZ time) $3500 First withdrawal fee Monday, September 15, 3pm (NZ …
Fortuitious clean sweep of Crown heats
STABLEMATES TAKE OUT ADDINGTON ABC HEATS Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones says Sabellian may be attractive to Australian buyers after qualifying for the Australasian Breeders Crown 3YO fillies semi-finals at Melton in August. He has no plans to take Sabellian, or other Friday’s promoted 3YO ABC colts and geldings winner Zakspatrol, to Victoria himself. However, he made the most of a good opportunity to pick up the $3500 individual winning stakes for his owners with the paid-up Breeders Crown runners. Previously with the Allstars barn, Sabellian won the $16,000 Alabar Sires Stakes Fillies Championship Silver at Auckland on December 31, …
NZ METRO TC, July 18 & ASHBURTON TC, July 20
NZ METRO TC, Friday, July 18 Race 2: A CHRISTIAN ACT (13, UR 1, Anthony Butt), mob. 2600m: “First-up since November and has had only one quiet trial. Will be better to go to the races for money than workouts for nothing. She’s working ok and an each-way chance with luck from the draw.” Race 3: LADY MACKENDON (5, Kimberly Butt) & KOWHAI SUNRISE (9, Ricky May), mob. 1950m: “Lady Mackendon has put in two nice efforts for us. If she trot all the way is an outside place chance. “I’m not that happy with Kowhai Sunrise but can’t pinpoint …
NZ METRO TC, Fri, July 11 & OAMARU HRC, Sun, July 13
NZ METRO TC, Friday, July 11 Race 5: STRIKE ON COMMAND (3, Blair Orange) & MACHS A FLYIN (6, Kimberly Butt), mob. 2600m: “Strike On Command was a shade disappointing last week but hopefully is better for the run and an each-way chance.” “Machs A Flyin is in a tough grade and looking for luck.” Race 6: ZAKSPATROL (2, Blair Orange) & GOTTA GRUNTER (7, Mark), 2600m std: “Zakspatrol disappointed last time at Rangiora. With a good performance he’d be a big chance in this but may be looking for a spell.” “Gotta Grunter put in a good effort last …
TIMARU HRC, Sunday, July 6
TIMARU HRC, Sunday, July 6 Race 2: GOTTA GRUNTER (1, Craig Thornley), mob. 2600m: “Been disappointing but gets a good chance. Will be off to the paddock if he disappoints again.” Race 3: LADY MACKENDON (2, Kimberly Butt), mob. 2000m: “Was a massive win last start and a place hope if she trots here.” KOWHAI SUNRISE (9, Blair Orange), mob. 2000m: “Her poor run last week is unexplained. Tests showed nothing amiss so on best form is a big hope.” Race 5: ANOTHERSUPERSTAR (1, Craig Ferguson), 2600m std: “First start for the stable. I don’t know much about her. Craig …
NZ METRO TC, Friday July 4
NZ METRO TC, Friday, July 4 Race 1: REMISS (5, Blair Orange), mob. 1950m: “Went rough again at Forbury last week so take on trust.” Race 7: STRIKE ON COMMAND (1, Blair Orange), 2600m std: “He’s racing good and each-way chance off the front.” MACHS A FLYIN (3, Michelle Neilson), 2, 10m, 2600m std: “Not working as good as he can but in line for the Met bonus with only five more starts so he’ll go round.” FAIR DINKUM BROMAC (7, Kimberly Butt), 3, 20m, 2600m std: “Went good last week. After being that wide around the last bend he …
FORBURY PARK TC, Thursday, July 3
FORBURY PARK TC, Thursday, July 3 Race 3: EASTBURN MARA (2), mob 2200m: “Has a stone bruise and been scratched.” Race 6: JUNEAMY CASTLETON (9, Jonny Cox), 3, 10m, 2700m std: “Has been at Jonny and Amber’s. Hopefully was a case of being too fresh last week.” Race 7: GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME (1), mob 2700m: “Scratched with a stone bruise.” Race 9: ROCK TILL YOU DROP (11, Blair Orange), mob. 2200m: “Wa disappointing last week. Have made some gear changes to hopefully help lift him.”
FORBURY TC, June 27, RANGIORA HRC, JUNE 29
FORBURY PARK TC, Friday, June 27 Race 1: LADY MACKENDON (5, Kimberly Butt), 2700m std: “First-up for stable. Matthew Cross owns with his fiancée Kim Butt. Only an outside chance.” Race 6: REMISS (5, Kimberly Butt), mob. 1700m: “Its a $10k race so hard to turn down. She’s been doing things wrong so hopeful rather than confident.” Race 9: JUNEAMY CASTLETON (3, Jonny Cox), 1, 10m, 2700m std: “Jonny (Cox) and Amber (Hoffman) have got her for winter racing. On best form she should be hard to beat.” RANGIORA HRC, Sunday, June 29 Race 6: KOWHAI SUNRISE (9, Terry Chmiel), …
Mark says strike & brings up 300
STRIKE ON COMMAND DELIVERS FOR 300th Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones brought up his 300th training win when Strike On Command responded to a clever drive from good mate Blair Orange at Marlborough on Sunday, June 22. The milestone caps Mark’s sixth and most successful season as a professional trainer. This was his 68th win for the season, taking the stable earnings to $738,993, with mutliple Group One winning trotter Master Lavros the big breadwinner. “Its been a good season. We’ll be a bit down next season as a lot have been sold and we’re a bit light on numbers,” …
MARLBOROUGH HRC, Sunday, June 22
MARLBOROUGH HRC, Sunday, June 22 Race 2: EASTBURN MARA (1, Mark), 2400m std: “Went ok Friday. Should be a good each-way chance from the draw.” Race 4: CAVALLO VOLANTE (6, Blair Orange), mob. 2400m: “Raced good again Friday. With the right luck can win.” Race 6: ZAKSPATROL (5, Blair Orange), 2300m std: “Wasn’t too far away in a sprint home on Friday. A chance with the right run.” Race 8: STRIKE ON COMMAND (5, Blair Orange), mob. 2300m: “Went really good on Friday. An each-way show again.” Outside drives Race 4: DOUBLE BOURBON (3), mob. 2300m: “Made a mistake Friday. …