FORTY THIEVES ADDS TO GOOD JONES SALE RECORD
Forty Thieves, who led and won at Melton in a useful 1:54.4 rate (2240m) on Friday night, is another good winner to be sold early days out of the Mark Jones stable.
Bred by Hamish Scott, Dr Kim Lawson and Equine Investments Ltd, the Chistian Cullen-Harem Franco gelding only raced twice in NZ at three, with Jones letting him go after winning a $5413 maiden at Forbury in December 2015 in a 1:59.5 rate (2200m).
The half-brother to Franco Harrison (1:58.1) and Franco Harrington (1:51.2, US) led throughout Friday’s $20,000 Allied Express Pacre for driver James Herbertson, easily holding his rivals to win by five metres, cutting out his last 800m in 56.7s and 400m in 28.1s.
Forty Thieves, now seven and trained for his Austalian racing in Victoria by Joe Pace, is yet another ex-Overport Lodge pacer to have made his mark across the Tasman, having amassed just over $A90,000 from 12 wins and 13 placings in 54 career starts.
He has a best winning mile rate of 1:52.6, set when resuming this term over 1720m at Melton on September 14.