SUERTE WINS PREMIER DAY, MAY 12, 2012
Suerte showed a good sense of timing to deliver for the Mark Jones stable in the presence of Melbourne owners, Merv and Meg Butterworth, on premier day at Addington, Saturday, May 12.
The Butterworths flew to Christchurch after their former Southland trotter Knapdale girl was withdrawn from a feature trot final in South Australia on Saturday.
They had a stellar day with a winning Addington treble.
Didjamakem Bolt and Best Deal Yet, two other Southland purchases, now racing for the Mark Purdon/Grant Payne stable, were also in rampant form.
Blair Orange, successful driving some of the Purdon/Payne runners owned by the Butterworths, including Best Deal Yet, scored the Suerte drive. The horse was first-up for four months, and second-up since entering the Butterworth ownership.
The Butterworths, who have horses in various stables in Australia and NZ, also race Babes Boy Bob from the Jones stable. They also won races with the consistent Ardlussa Express, who was exported to Australia last month.
Suerte, a four-year-old Falcon Seelster gelding, was impressive taking out the 1-win $9778 United Video Mobile Pace.
He was eased back to last on the outer from a wide gate, then was sent forward when the pace eased mid-race to wrest the lead from Temudjin beginning the final lap.
Blair was “off” again with Suerte at the 300m, opening up a winning break on his rivals.
They were too good in the run home, holding Fuse, who finished best of the rest from two and three back on the markers.
Suerte paced the mobile 2600m in 3:19.9 (2:03.7 mile rate), quickening over his last 800m in 58.5s and closing 400m in 27.9s.
Bred by the late former top Southland trainer-driver Henry Skinner, and long-time stable client Peter Williams, Suerte was recording his second win from eight starts.
His fourth dam Lucky Chance (seven wins), a half-sister to Lucky Boy (five wins including the 1983 Superstars 4YO Championship), was a hardy mare in the 1970s for Skinner and Williams.
The family has left other good winners such as Mr Williams (11 wins, $133,242) for Brent Mangos, and Rocket Ship (seven wins, 1:53.2, US), and Just Okay (17 NSW wins).
NEWCOMER DELIVERS
Lucky Dave, who joined the Mark Jones stable at the beginning of the week, was good enough to credit the Burnham trainer with his 40th training win of the season at Forbury Park on Thursday, May 3.
Transferred by co-owner Neil Munro to the Jones, Lucky Dave followed the path of useful trotter King Of Strathfield, who also won a race when trained by Mark, when sent to him by fellow trainer Neil Munro, two years ago.
Lucky Dave qualified for his co-owner at Motukarara on April 18, running third and breaking 2:50 for the mobile 2200m, and was passed on to Mark after beating Seabreeze Star, and fellow subsequent Forbury winner Mac Bubbles in a Motukarara workout on Saturday, April 28.
The 3YO Armbro Operative gelding was impressive after being eased back to the rear early from a wide gate.
Mark sent him forward at speed to take control at the 1400m and he was always travelling too well for his rivals over the final lap.
Lucky Dave kept up a strong run to hold Lady Brownhouse by 2 1/4 lenghts in 2:45.6 (2:01.1 mile rate) for the mobile 2200m.
Stablemates Juneamy Castleton, and Classiebee, both had to settle for seconds in supporting maiden races at Forbury.
JELLIGNITE EYES BLENHEIM
Jellignite, who moved to a 5-win assessment after proving too strong in the 3-4 win handicap pace at Ashburton on Queens Birthday Monday, has the Marlborough winter meeting next week on his immediate agenda.
Burnham trainer Mark Jones said it is becoming a little difficult to place the 4YO, now that he’s in the intermediate grades as the winner of nine (four penalty-free) for $53,962 for breeder-owner, Miss Pat Campbell.
“We will most likely look at Blenheim, then the free-for-alls through the winter with him,” he said.
The $10,250 Winter Cup Prelude (2300m) at Waterlea on Friday, June 15, and the $12,250 Marlborough Winter Cup (3200m) on Sunday, June 17, are both three win and faster handicaps.
Jellignite was always travelling well, three back on the outer until the turn for regular driver Regan Todd.
The Courage Under Fire-Badjelly The Wytch gelding clicked up strongly in the straight to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths from Montecrengle, who rallied again in the straight after hanging in the open turning for home.
Front-running Samuel James held third, a head away, with Floyd Mayweather, who settled a place ahead of Jellignite in the running, a sound fourth.
Jellignite paced the 2400m from a stand in a smart 3:01 (2:01.3 mile rate), the leaders having the pace on over their last 800m in 56.3s and final 400m in 27.5s.