JOHNNY FOX MOVES NORTH TO TONY HERLIHY’S TEAM
Invercargill Cup winner Johnny Fox is to try and advance his score from Tony Herlihy’s Papakura team.
The 6YO Western Terror gelding won’t return to Canterbury, with plans for him to ultimately head to Australia after a stint in the north.
Johnny Fox, this season’s Invercargill Cup winner for trainer Mark Jones and driver Blair Orange, who has joined Tony Herlihy’s Papakura stables.
Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones and owners, the Butterworth Racing Syndicate, decided to try Johnny Fox from new quarters after he finished unplaced behind Dalton Bromac at Addington on May 9.
Johnny Fox found a purple patch of form in January.
He scored back-to-back Nelson wins with speedy sit-sprint finishes, then backed up with a tough win after moving up parked in the G3 $40,000 Invercargill Cup two weeks later.
Freshnened, he ran third in Tiger Tara’s Cheviot Cup in early March, but was safely held by others in his last three runs from the stable.
Johnny Fox, who has a 1:56.9 mile mark, may be easier to place in the north on his tough C9 assessment.
He has arrived in the north the winner of nine of 37 career starts for $90,959 in stakes.
Another departure from the Overport Lodge stable is capable 3YO pacing filly Champagne Dreams.
The year-older half-sister to 2YO star Lazarus (1:56.5) was sold to Australian interests after finishing unplaced in The Orange Agent’s G1 Nevele R Fillies Final at Addington on May 9.
Champagne Dreams (3f Art Major-Bethany) won at Marlborough in January and picked up five minor placings from 16 NZ starts.
She has a 1:55.9 placed mile mark, recorded at Ashburton in early February.