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SAVEAPATROL TO HEAD SOUTH AFTER WINNING QUALIFIER

Saveapatrol, untroubled to win his Addington qualifier on Monday, December 3, 2012, in 2:32.2 for the mobile 2000m, is to head south for his early racing this month.

“He’ll qualify down there for the Southern Supremacy,” said Burnham trainer Mark Jones.

The Christian Cullen gelding, also Harness plus eligible, was shaping as his best 2YO in the stable last term, until problems arose.

Mark says it may have been a blessing he had to be put aside.

Bred by Australian Peter Chambers from the good Falcon Seelster mare Rondel Franco (1:51.6, US, 37 wins incl. 36 in America for $684,003), Saveapatrol was on-sold by Mr Chambers to fellow stable client Grant Hatton, after being found to have hock and knee problems.

“He had bone chips taken off his hocks and has his knees operated on as well,” Mark said.

“When we got him vetted the vets said he was a risk, but Peter Chambers was happy to let him go as not many would have bought him with those faults.”

“His knees look good now but he’s got short legs for his body. He was a colt when Grant bought him but we had to geld him because he was going to be too top-heavy.”

Saveapatrol was unhurried early from a wide gate in Monday’s qualifier, settling at the rear of the six horse line-up.

Mark had him rolling at the 1200m, taking control at the 900m and he was too good over the closing stages, coming clear by four lengths from Cheyenne Warrior.

He rated 2:02.7 for the mobile 2000m, quickening over his last 800m in 58.2s and his final 400m in 29.2s.

Mark is also to send Itz Nosurprisesthere on the south circuit, along with either Christian Seel or Jolene Franco, the latter two also trialling on Monday.

Itz Nosurprisesthere was freshened after running a sound fifth in Adore Me’s NZ record run over 1700m (1:55.3 mile rate) in a Forbury Sires Stakes Fillies Heat on October 21.

The McArdle filly will look to qualify for the Southland Oaks.

“Regan will also probably send Strata Star and Champagne Driller south, so we’ll have a bit of a team going,” he said.

Christian Seel led up from a stand to easily beat three others in the one or more wins handicap pace.

She ran the 2600m in 3:26.1, quickening over her last 800m in 59.8s to run three lengths clear of Lady Lizzie and Montenegro.

By Jeff Scott

WELL-TIMED LATE FINISH FROM ALEX

Alex, rewarded for consistency in the 1-win Dakins Rent A Loo Christmas Party Mobile Pace at Addington on Friday, November 30, will continue to race for the Mark Jones stable for another month, but will ultimately race in Australia.

“His owner Greg Brodie will race him over there. He’ll do a good job in suitable races there,” said trainer Mark Jones.

“He’s not a star, but a good honest horse,” he said.

Friday’s win by Alex, a brother to good-winning mare Glenferrie Alexis (1:55.9, Aust) and the capable Jackaroozy (1:56.2, Aust), was a change of luck for Mr Brodie, who recently had capable mare Holme Fire sidelined for four months with a hip injury.

Mr Brodie, who has raced a host of topline pacers including the former Bruce Negus-trained stars, Courage Under Fire and Franco Hat Trick, has 10 horses with Burnham trainer Mark Jones, but Mark said they’ll be looking to change tack a little.

“We’ll try and change quantity for quality. I’d rather have three quality ones for Greg, so we’ll be on the lookout to get him some better ones,” Mark said.

Alex, a 4YO gelding by Mr Brodie’s former champion youngster Courage Under Fire from Alegria (Caprock-Miesque), took his record to three wins and eight placings, for $19,579 in stakes, with Friday’s win.

He settled beyond midfield from a second row alley, and was relegated to last with a lap to run.

Still last at the 400m, Mark had the last say, bringing Alex home with a well-timed late run wide to wear down Vanilla Rose and Angus Bromac in a useful 3:16.3 (2:01.4 mile rate).

The win brought up the 13th win of the season from only 66 starters for the Mark Jones stable, and was Mark’s 23rd driving win for the season.

THE LUTTS HOLDS TENACIOUSLY

The Lutts appreciated a significant drop back in grade from premier racing at Addington on Show day to score in the 1-2 wins All Signed Up/Kentuckiana Lodge Special Handicap Pace at Motukarara on Sunday, November 25.

The 4YO Western Terror gelding, the second favourite in an open race, was sent to the front by Burnham trainer-driver Mark Jones and held tenaciously by a head from outsider Anntoro.

Favourite Delightful Blue ran third with another roughie, Town Icon, running into fourth.

“My ‘ GP’ (galloping pacemaker) winning _ thats how bad my team is,” Mark chuckled after the victory.

“He’s my shining light!.”

The Lutts will now head back to Addington for another 1-2 win $3000 pace next Friday in his bid to chase down a bonus for the number of starts at Addington during the season.

“He’ll go round there to get the bonus. I wish someone would buy him for Aussie, but nobody wants him,” Mark said.

The Lutts was notching his second win in 18 starts for Max (former HRNZ chairman) and Frances Bowden, who were on-course to cheer home their gelding.

The Bowden’s co-bred him from Girlsjustwanahavefun, a New York Motoring half-sister to former smart free-legged pacer Nutwood (eight NZ wins, 1:50.6, US).

San Fran Lady, another they bred then sold to Australian interests, won again on Saturday night, taking out a $A11,000 M1 pace at Albion Park, Brisbane, in a 1:54.9 mile rate for the 1660m.

The Live Or Die-Emcil mare has taken a career best 1:53 winning mile time and has notched 15 wins and around $100,000 in earnings.

San Fran Lady’s half-brother, Princeton, racing as At Princeton in West Australia, ran second at Harvey on Tuesday. After winning four in NZ, he has picked up a win and two seconds since being exported to Australia.

Charlotte Two (Live Or Die-Polly’s Atom), another they bred, was sold after placing in two of her three NZ starts. She has won three of four starts in Australia.

MASTER LAVROS BY SIX LENGTHS IN TRIAL

Promising squaregaiter Master Lavros would only need to step as swiftly as he did at the NZ Cup trials at Addington on Wednesday (November 7) to be very hard to beat on the big day on Tuesday.

“That’s the only problem. When he begins like that, he normally doesn’t do it the next time,” said Mark.

Master Lavros confirmed he is trained to the minute for the premier raceday by leaving his rivals in his wake by six lengths in the run home, with race rival Lucky Monarch next best, finishing on from three back, ahead of Sol Invictus.

The ‘Master’  trotted the 2600m in 3:25.3 after a cool easterly wind had freshened, picking up the tempo over his last 800m in 59s and his closing 400m in 29.6s.

He has been ticking over nicely since gaining a penalty-free junior drivers win for Regan Todd at Rangiora on September 20.

The big 4YO Sundon gelding is raced by Kyros Kotzikas, who enjoyed a stellar 1997 New Zealand Cup day winning the big race with Iraklis.

Master Lavros has been well placed to win four from only six starts, and still remains on a 1-win assessment to try and take advantage of his placement off the front in the 1-2 wins $20,000 The Recruitment Network Handicap Trot on Cup day.

He starts from the inside of the four unruly horses in a capacity field. Everything will hinge on how he copes over the opening 200 metres.

Wednesday’s trial was pleasing and comes on the back of an equally easy Rangiora workout win on October 27.

However, Master Lavros mixed his gait for his first few strides on that occasion.

He was too slick at the business end though, coming clear by 4 1/4 lengths from Imelda, trotting the 2600m that day in 3:23.2

NZ TROTTING FFA REDUCED TO 2000m

HRNZ MEDIA BITES, SEPTEMBER 24

• This Friday night we’ll no doubt see a great race at Addington in the Avon City Ford (New Brighton) Cup. Here are the names: Auckland Reactor,Franco Emirate (Ur), Gold Ace, Highview Tommy, Jarcullembra, Mach Banner, Mah Sish, Major Mark, Mister Presley, Motu Speedy Star, Ohoka Texas, Pure Power, Sleepy Tripp (Ur), Sushi Sushi, Zenola Seelster. Winner gets to walk straight into the Christchurch Casino NZ Trotting Cup. There are some dual nominators in a 4-Win & Faster Hcp also.
• Gold Ace turned in a sparkling workout at Rangiora on Sunday. He came from second-last at the mile peg to down Mach Banner who led from the mid stages. Privately timed Gold Ace put up numbers of 3.00.8, 1.57.0, 54.7 and 27.1. A perfect run heading into this week. Worth noting the likes of Mach Banner and Franco Emirate ran sub-2.54 2400m in the Vase at Addington two weeks ago.
• Cran Dalgety has had a remarkable start to the racing season. He’s already racked up 17 wins from just 35 starts. He’s well on the way to another century. I ran some numbers this morning also and Dalgety has huge stocks to work with. I counted 37 three-year-olds in work on the HRNZ database. Currently there are no two-year-olds listed so the original figure could sore by the end of the calendar year. Cran is only five wins off 800 lifetime training wins in NZ.
• The NRM Sires Stakes kicks off this week too with the initial heats being run in Cambridge and Addington. Always a great series the early three-year-olds generally put on a great show. 13 have nominated for Addington’s heat with Mark Purdon supplying four of them. Unfortunately just five have committed to a run at Cambridge.
• Caribbean Blaster has been nominated to race at Tabcorp Park, Melton, this Friday night in The Gammalite. He’ll butt heads with the likes of Melpark Major and Jaccka Clive. Will be interesting to see how he fronts up against the Free-For-Allers and what impact there may be on next week’s NZ Cup rankings.
• Fears of horse shortages have been allayed somewhat with the 195 individual horses being nominated for Banks Peninsula on Sunday. While race fields have struggled a little for numbers to this point with some of the bigger stables opening up their arsenals things are clearly about to change on that front. The spring influx of grass track meetings around the country too will nudge up the average fields sizes.
• Change in conditions to NZ Trotting FFA – since it’s move from the traditional Friday the NZ Trotting FFA at Addington during Cup Week has been a mixed bag. The club has looked at ways to make the race better for all concerned and this year’s running will be on Cup Day (same as recent years) and be run over the sprint distance of 1950m. The race will once again be sponsored by Seelite Windows & Doors.