FRIDAY NELSON AND AUCKLAND WINS FOR STABLE
Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones advanced to 52 wins for the season with a winning double on the first day of the Nelson winter meeting, and another at Auckland, on Friday, June 5.
Adding to the day’s success, Woodend Beach stable foreman picked up a deserved win with Sandvik Star at Nelson, and was the caretaker trainer of upset mares mile winner Whyamibettor from Overport starter All Delight.
Pommie Roy, delivered as a dominating favourite on the first day of the Nelson winter meeting for trainer Mark Jones.
Mark scored back-to-back Nelson training wins reining front-running hot favourite Pomme Roy to a comfortable win in the C1 Reefton Trotting Club Mobile Pace.
He has decided not to back up the 3YO Christian Cullen-TK Swift gelding on the second day at Nelson on Sunday.
Pomme Roy held second favourite Mach Denario by a length and a half in a 2:03.9 rate for the mobile 2400m in the slushy conditions, quickening over his last 800m in 58.5s.
After winning his 2YO debut at Addington and showing early promise as a colt, Pomme Roy was gelded after losing form after racing in Auckland as a spring 3YO.
He returned to win first-up at Addington on April 23 and has been in good overall form for this preparation.
Friday’s win was a bonus C1 win for the 3YO, who remains a C1 for his next start. He has now won three of 15 career starts.
in a good sense of occasion, Blair Orange then reined stablemate Zakspatrol to a gritty neck win over the Regan Todd-trained Fleeting Grin in the C1 Mark Jones Racing Stables and Club Waimea-sponsored Pace.
Zakspatrol, who had been knocking on the door of a win in his latest racing, rallied strongly from the third line on the outer to score in 3:10.9 (2400m stand) in the conditions.
The big 4YO Art Major-Shimmering Star gelding gets his chance to step up in the C2 and faster Nelson Pine Industries Nelson Winter Cup on Sunday.
Zakspatrol was returning to the winner’s circle on Friday at his third start since being downgraded last month.
Zakspatrol, furthered his useful record on the first day at Nelson.
He is now the winner of five from 43 starts for $38,232.
Owner Grant Hatton shares in the ownership of both Nelson winners.
He races Zakspatrol with wife Katherine, while he co-races Pomme Roy with Chatsworth Lodge Ltd, Bob Higgins, Bill and Claude Walsh.
Katherine Hatton also races Real Torque, a 2YO Real Desire filly, with daughters, Emma, Gina and Kate.
The girls also enjoyed good success a few years earlier as co-owners of former country cups star My Man Dan.
Real Torque, a half-sister to fast North American winner Statesman (1:50.4, US, nine NZ wins) and other useful types in Monaro (seven NZ wins, 1:58.5) and WA winner Calais (two wins, 1:56, Aust), was a $10,000 Australasian Classic Yearling Sales buy.
She wasn’t hurried out of the gate first-up by Kimberly Butt in the Mitavite Mobile Pace.
Real Torque showed some toughness after being left parked and rallied well to hold Bronze Over by a neck in 2:45.5 (2:01 mile rate) for the mobile 2200m.
The leaders quickened over their last 800m in 58.3s and final 400m in 27.9s.
By Jeff Scott