SECOND COUNTRY FINAL WIN
Mark Jones notched his second Canterbury Regional Country Cups Final training and driving win when he reined favourite Jackaroo Bromac to score in the $25,000 Woodlands Stud-sponsored Final at Rangiora on Sunday, April 7.
The Burnham trainer earlier set former smart racemare Crystal Star to win the 2010 Regional Country Cups Final when it was formerly held at Addington.
Jackaroo Bromac stretched his unbeaten sequence to three since joining the Overport Lodge team with another comprehensive victory.
From the inside of the 10m line, the McArdle entire settled just worse than midfield but Mark soon had him in the running line and improving three wide ahead of the backmarkers beginning the final 800m.
He dashed past leader Piper Heidsieck at the 500m and held strong finishing backmarker Southwind Arden (30m) by a length and a quarter in a strong 3:16.2 (2:01.4 mile rate) for the 2600m, the leaders running their last 800m in 57.9s and final 400m in 28.8s.
“I have no other real plans for him other just to race around here, unless he’s sold,” Mark said.
Jackaroo Bromac, now the winner of $65,742 for co-owners Wayne Higgs and Bromac Lodge Ltd, backed up with a sound third behind Beach Bunny in the 3-6 wins Lis Mara Mobile Pace at the Timaru meeting at Addington on Friday.
Trainer Mark Jones racked up his 32nd training win for the season when stablemate Bevan Gray turned some mixed form around to upset late in the day at Rangiora.
Bevan Gray responded to an increased workload and the addition of blinds with a smart front-running win in the 1-2 wins Life After Racing Ribbon Day Sunday May 26 Mobile Pace.
The 5YO Live Or Die-Minerva gelding held the spirited challenge from second favourite Mach’s Gladiator to hold by half a head in 2:28.5 (1:59.4 mile rate) for the 2000m _ quickening over his last 800m in 56.6s and final 400m in 27.6s.
He was last successful at Invercargill in January, also leading up trounce his rivals by eight lengths in a 1:59.1 rate over 2200m when trained by Neil Munro.
The Jones stable extended their seasonal earnings surpassing the $250,000 mark with the Rangiora double.
HERLIHY-JONES COMBINE
The Mark Jones stable created history at Methven on Sunday, March 24, providing NZ’s most successful driver Tony Herlihy with one of few NZ feats to previously elude him _ saluting the judge for the first time at the Mount Harding grass track.
Herlihy, who has now reined 3131 winners of over $32.2 million, drove last-start winner Jackaroo Bromac (20m) confidently to take out the 2-6wins Yaldhurst Hotel Handicap Pace.
He sent the 4YO McArdle-Jillbo entire to the front mid-race and they comfortably held early leader Special Bella by 1 1/4 lengths in a 2:08.5 rate for the 3000m, quickening over his last 800m in 59.2s.
Jackaroo Bromac, raced by Wayne Higgs with co-breeders Bromac Lodge Ltd, joins Offtocullect and Spotafalcon as Jones-trained winners for former leading trainer Wayne Higgs, who has transferred his raceteam to various stables after sub-dividing his Redwood training base.
Higgs is subsequently left without a training track, prompting the recent transfers.
Spotafalcon, who won his only start for the Jones stable, taking out the 1-2 win Paintlab Hornby Pace at the Akaroa meeting on March 17, was sold post-race to New South Wales interests.
The 4YO Falcon Seelster-Mystery Spot gelding held All Delight over 2170m from a stand at Motukarara, pacing his last 800m in 59.7s.
Spotafalcon raced just 10 times in NZ for two wins and three placings.