TWO OUTA THREE AT GORE
Meat Loaf’s former famous song title ‘Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” summarised the day for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones on a slushy Gore March day on Sunday, March 11.
He delivered twice early on the Gore programme with the Greg Brodie-trained half-sisters, Mach Kana and Christian Seel.
He then had to settle for second with Ardlussa Express behind flying southern mare Southern Sun over a slick sub 57s final 800m in the conditions in the PGG Wrightson Aon Insurance Brokers Special Handicap Pace.
The winning Gore double advanced the Jones stable to 37 training wins for $273,707 in stakes, and 5th equal on the trainers premiership for the term. Mark has now reined 44 winners this term.
Mach Kana’s winning debut in the Macca Lodge 2YO Fillies Pace was satisfying on the back of some solid trial form.
The daughter of Mach Three and former Queensland Oaks winner Turkana did everything right from the ace, holding up the lead into the first turn.
Mark took a trail behind Vienna Eyre with 1100m to run with Mach Kana finishing best with a sprint lane finish in the run home.
She won going away by half a length in a 2:02.3 mile rate for the 1700m in the conditions. The leaders ran their final 800m in 60.1s and the closing 400m in 29.3s.
A Mach Three brother to Mach Kana, offered by Studholme Bloodstock, sold at last week’s NZ Premier Yearling Sale for $17,000.
Mach Kana’s first two dams were smart fillies themselves.
Turkana’s dam Kisumu (Nero’s BB-Kinshasha) showed early speed winning a NZ Sires Stakes 2YO Fillies Championship.
She has left the useful winners Kikiyu (p3, 1:55.7, 13 Australasian wins), Lavros Kisumu (four NZ wins, five in America, 1:56.4h) and Rafiki, the dam of winners, Amboseli (six) and Bwana (two).
Other notable winners in her maternal family include NZ Breeders Stakes winner Time To Fly (eight wins) and former big-winning Victoria pacer, The Warp Drive (19 wins and $464,971).
Mach Kana’s year older half-sister Christian Seel bounced back from an unplaced run in the Addington Nevele R Fillies Heat on February 24 to win a Harness Plus 3YO fillies pace at Gore.
The daughter of Falcon Seelster and Turkana settled in midfield early then Mark moved her to the front with 1100m to run.
She was hotly challenged late by strong-finisher Sonia Ellen but lasted by a nose in a 2:04.3 rate for the 2200m in the Nevele R Stud 3YO Fillies Mobile Pace, the winner running her last 800m in 61.1s and final 400m in 29.8s.
Mark stepped Ardlussa Express straight to the front in the 3-8 wins PGG Wrightson Aon Insurance Brokers Pace, trailed Southern Sun over the final lap, and gave him every chance.
However Southern Sun held by a length and a quarter to extend her impressive formline for Invercargill trainer Tony Stratford.
Ardlussa Express finished a sound second, with Tor Riley, racing well for the Robbie Holmes stable, finishing on well for third.
Southern Sun, notching her fourth win on end, overcame a 20m handicap to post 2:52.4 for the 2200m on the slushy track. She finished off over her closing 400m in 28.5s.