EARLY CHRISTMAS CRACKERS LET LOOSE AT WINTON
The Overport Lodge stable of Mark Jones unleashed three early Christmas crackers at Winton on Saturday, December 22.
They made the trek south worthwhile with three of the four starts saluting, taking the stable to 11 seasonal wins.
Australasian Young Drivers champ Sheree Tomlinson hit the front on the NZ Junior Drivers Premiership when she combined with stable runner Michelle in the Ryal Bush Transport Ltd Trot.
Michelle and Sheree Tomlinson return after winning at Winton on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Bruce Stewart).
Sheree moved to 21 seasonal wins, one ahead of John Morrison, after combining with Michelle for her second win in her last three starts.
Michelle, a warm favourite but a mare who recently came off the unruly, wasn’t hurried early, settling nicely into her rhythm before Sheree took her to the top at the 1600m.
She was clear for much of the run home, and while trailer Delson (Chelsea Faithful) closed late, Michelle held by a neck in 3:08 (2400m), trotting her last 800m in 59.1s.
This was her third win in 29 starts, but she’s made good progress lately.
Sheree also drove her on the front end to win a junior drivers trot over 2200m at Forbury on December 7 for owner, Wayne Higgs.
Mr Higgs took ownership of the chestnut mare two years ago from Burnham breeders, Bruce and Colleen Negus.
She’s the first foal from Eves Apple, a Red River Hanover mare who won twice pacing.
Her second foal was the promising Sir Lincoln pacer, John The Plumber, who ran second on debut as a two-year-old and ran seventh in the NZ Sapling Stakes, but subsequently died.
Michelle belongs to a pacing-bred family tracing to good pacers of yesteryear in Eden’s Joy (10 wins), Young Eden (1987 NZ Oaks winner), Good Mate (nine NZ wins), Young Pride (1:57.5, Aust), Kenny The Cowboy (1:51.4, US), Captain Crazy (1:52.8, US) and Roland John (1:53.8, US).
Mark brought back memories of seasons past in the deep south with positive front-running driving wins with maiden pacers, Rockahula Joe and Barrett.
He also reined the Kirsten Barclay and “Tank” Ellis-trained mare Shezacullengirl for second to runaway winner Smokin By in the day’s feature, the Wairio Cup.
Mark wasn’t going to leave the course wondering with his two maiden pacers, sending them clear and making the most of their staying abilities.
Rockahula Joe had his rivals struggling to stay in touch turning for home and he was untroubled to win by 3 and 3/4 lengths in 3:00.5 for the mobile 2400m.
By Roll With Joe (1:48.4, brother of champion sire Bettor’s Delight) and sire of smart Australian pacer, Ignatius (1:51.3, 16 wins from 19 starts), Rockahula Joe was a winner at his sixth start on Saturday.
He’s from an unraced American-bred Artsplace sister to useful Australasian winners, Rockin Roll Lad (1:58.9, nine wins) and On Tap (1:53.8, five wins), and from a half-sister to big winner, Blazin N Cullen (1:50.8, 24 wins & $523,732).
Barrett, rewarded at his seventh start, after finishing twice second earlier this month, scored an emphatic six and a quarter lengths win in the Willy’s Flooring Ltd Pace.
The Bettor’s Delight colt cleared out from the home turn to win as he liked in 3:02.2 from the stand start 2400m, quickening over his last 800m in 57.7s and 400m in 28.1s.
He’s the first foal from Australian Group race winner Priceless Gem (Art Major-My Ami Lee), a winner of 10 from 52 starts for $80,861.