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PRINCETON DELIVERS RANGIORA WIN

The Mark Jones stable moved to just under $300,000 in winnings for the season from 39 wins when Princeton delivered for his supporters at Rangiora on Sunday, April 29.

Given a good run in behind the leaders, the 4YO Bettor’s Delight-Emcil gelding stormed home when in the clear for Mark to win going away by three-quarters of a length.

The effort capped a solid but luckless form-line in his latest racing.

Princeton paced the 2000m (stand) in 2:36.2, the leaders quickening over their last 800m in 57.6s and final 400m in a sizzling 26.6s.

He was notching his third career win (second penalty-bearing) from 14 starts for owners Frances and Max Bowden, and Max’s son Lyndon.

Hawthornden and Got The Nod, both handy throughout, fought out the minor placings, ahead of  Fat Prophet, who moved up parked.

Princeton’s stablemate Lively Eastburn settled back from a second row barrier and was unable to make up ground in such a fast run home.

SUERTE WINS RANGIORA WORKOUT

Suerte, owned by Victoria’s Merv and Meg Butterworth, moved a step closer to a winter race resumption for trainer Mark Jones at the Rangiora workouts on Wednesday, May 2.

The 4YO Falcon Seelster gelding was spelled after running fifth to Pembrook’s Delight in his first start for the Overport Lodge stable at Forbury on January 26.

He had previously won once from six starts for former Invercargill trainer Mark Shirley.

Suerte stepped quickly from the stand start in Wednesday’s one win and faster pace, leading at the end of the opening 200m.

He was strong in front for the remainder of the workout, holding a solid finish from six-win assessed pacer Lionel’s Meddle by a length. Mr Murdoch and Floyd Mayweather finished next.

Suerte paced the 2600m in a sound 3:27, quickening over his last 800m in 58s and closing 400m in 28.8s.

Stablemate, the unraced Bevan Gray (Regan Todd), a 4YO Live Or Die gelding, made ground late for fourth behind winner Limitation (Brent Borcoskie) over the leaders last 800m in 57.8s in a non-win pace.

Limitation held over the 2600m (stand) in 3:32.5.

Mark reined The Lutts, who moved up sharply at the 600m but blew out in the run home to finish fifth of the six starters.

Alex (Regan) was back on the inner mostly in his 1-win or faster mobile pace over 2000m and made ground late in a heat won by the Robert Dunn-trained Brooke Brad Carolina (Tim Williams) from Makah Warrior.

Brooke Brad Carolina returned 2:31.5 for the distance, the leaders running their last 800m in 58.2s and closing 400m in 28.6s.

Glenferrie Sunbird, a 2YO Love You filly, was unplaced when she stepped out in an unqualified trot heat.

RED WEST SOLD TO WA

Promising unraced juvenile pacer Red West was sold out of the Mark Jones stable earlier this week to race in west Australia.

The Christian Cullen colt is a brother to the well-performed 3YO colt Raging Bull (1:56.6 mile rate 1950m, four wins and four seconds from eight starts), and half-brother to the now retired smart racemare san Rafaella (1:54.8, seven wins from 14 starts).

Red West, purchased at last year’s NZ Premier Yearling Sale for $55,000, qualified running fourth in 2:01.6 in a 1609m trial at Ashburton on April 9, won by stablemate Alexy.

OK COURAGE LEAVES FOR SYDNEY

OK Courage, who wound up his NZ career at Forbury on April 5, was one of seven either sold, or to be exported, from the Mark Jones stable in either March or early April.

“OK Courage is off to join Ashlee Seijka in Sydney after Forbury,” Mark said.

OK Courage has been well placed in NZ, starting 40 times for 12 wins (six penalty-free), 11 placings and $104,389, for Queensland owner Greg Brodie.
He should have better opportunities in New South Wales.

Buzz Courage (3g Courage Under Fire-Honey Franco), another Brodie-owned pacer, who won a maiden second-up at Addington February 16, won exported to Australia a few weeks ago.

Also Australia-bound is 1:57.2 miler Ardlussa Express (5g Falcon Seelster-Silk Worm), who won four and was eight times placed in NZ, for $23,922 in stakes.

He joined the Jones stable after winning his maiden in Southland and made solid progress in Canterbury for Victorian owners, Merv and Meg Butterworth.

Saskia Finn (3f Artsplace-Maggie Finn), raced by rugby stars Zac Guildford, Brent Ward, along with Mike and Helen Finlayson, Nathan Brown and the Riverside Boxing Club Syndicate, has been sold to do her future racing in South Australia.

She raced nine times in NZ for two wins and two thirds, and registered a 1:59.7 winning mile rate over 1950m when scoring at Addington in January, and has become a stablemate of Union Buster in Adelaide.

IDEAL ARDEN SOLD TO HUTTON STABLE

Ideal Arden, who made his race debut with a good first-up fourth in a Garrard’s Sires Stakes Heat at Addington on April 7 for Greendale trainer Bruce Hutton, was purchased out of the Mark Jones stable only seven days earlier from breeder, Noreen Stiven.

The American Ideal colt qualified in the black and white colours when fourth at Ashburton on March 13.

Ideal Arden paced the 1609m in 2:00.6 when fourth in a 2YO pace won by Donegal Chokin.

He was trialled by Hutton when he led and was overshadowed on the line by Kotare Mahal in a 2YO mobile pace over 2000m, going 2:30.5 (2:00.9 mile rate), the leaders last 800m in 57.9s, at Rangiora on March 21.  

Ideal Arden then led and won a Motukarara workout last Saturday in 2:50.8 for the mobile 2200m, holding Queen’s Advocate by a nose, the last 800m in 58.7s.  

Glenferrie Hood (2g Christian Cullen-Niftey Franco), who qualified for the Jones stable at Ashburton on March 13, clocking 2:01.5 for the 1609m, has been sold to join Victorian trainer Gary Donaldson.

Leila May Finn (2f Grinfromeartoear-Silver Calais), another qualifier for the stable on March 13, going 2:02.7 for the 1609m, is to join Brent Borcoskie’s Sefton team.

She has been sold by Finash Bloodstock and is in the process of being syndicated to a group which includes Crusaders players, Zac Guildford, Andy Ellis, Wyatt Crockett and Tom Marshall, along with Stu Bailey and a few friends of the group.

Meanwhile, the stable’s big juvenile trotter Glenferrie Miner won’t be seen again until next season, but will remain in the Overport Lodge team.

The Sundon half-brother to You Rock has been given time and turned out for six months after trialling at Ashburton on March 13.

The stable has won 38 races and $283,163 for the season, with most of the leading stables having over 100 extra starters for the term.

SCOTT DELIVERS WITH ‘JELLY’

Junior driver Scott Stewart gained his first win for employer Mark Jones when he guided Jellignite to win the Cecil Hanna Memorial Mobile Pace at Rangiora on Sunday, April 1.

Scott, who gained his first win at Tauherenikau with Helicon on January 2, gained his third career win at Rangiora.

He pulled everything out of the bag to get $1.80 win favourite Jellignite home by the barest of margins over third favourite Te Rauparaha (Aimee Edmonds).

Mark said Scott probably improved his position at the right time and had confidence in him getting the win.

Scott stayed out of the early rush, going back to second-to-last early as the leaders went hard, then sent Jellignite forward with 1000m to run to range up outside Red Ransom at the 700m.

Jellignite led for much of the run home but Scott had to call on all his reserves to hold out a spirited inside run from Te Rauparaha inside the final 50m.

Scott was filling in for regular driver, fellow Overport junior Regan Todd, who had commitments at Invercargill on the same day.

Jellignite, who paced the mobile 2000m in a swift 2:26.5 (1:57.8 mile rate), the leaders feeling the pinch over their last 800m in 59s and closing 400m in 30s, is now likely to race in the 4 & 5YO Championship at Forbury on Thursday.

The 4YO Courage Under Fire gelding furthered his good record for owner Miss Pat Campbell. He has now raced 29 times for eight wins and 10 placings for $48,940 in stakes.

“He gets round the smaller track good. He can go down for it with Ohoka Texas,” Mark said.

Mark Jones put the unplaced run of Ohoka Texas at Addington on Friday night down to not having a chance to get up outside the leaders in a fast-run race.

“He just couldn’t get round them going a 1:55.1 mile rate for the 1950m,” said Mark.

Mark won the Forbury age group race when it was a restricted 4YO Championship two years ago with the now retired good mare Crystal Star.

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.

SMART ASHBURTON DEBUT

Burnham trainer Mark Jones will look for a Nevele R Fillies Heat run with Christian Seel after her impressive 1:56.1 mile, first-up, to win at Ashburton on Saturday, February 11.

“Greg (Brodie, owner) already has Holme Fire qualified. She’s not as good as Holme Fire, but is worth running in a heat,” he said.

Christian Seel, after settling back on the outer, improved with cover and sprinted best in the straight to win easing down by 3 1/4 lengths.

She was too quick in the home, coming clear of pacemaker Camgoli Cam and Between The Lines, which the winner tracked up.

The Falcon Seelster filly has a bit going for her on breeding, being the second foal from the 2004 Nevele R Fillies Final and Queensland Oaks winner Turkana (p3, 1:57.1 m.r, 1950m).

Turkana (Christian Cullen-Kisumu) won six on the track when secured for Greg Brodie by Bruce Negus.

At stud, Turkana left a Falcon Seelster filly Christian Watch, which was unplaced in just two starts for Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, then her next foal, a full brother died suddenly from a ruptured aorta in the paddock.

Mark Jones is preparing Mach Kana, a 2YO half-sister by Mach Three to Christian Seel, which will be ready to trial next week.

After foaling Mach Kana, Turkana was sold by Mr Brodie along with the dams of Alexis and Coastal, in a package deal to Studholme Bloodstock.

Christian Seel’s Ashburton win was timely for Studholme Bloodstock’s Brian West, who is offering Turkana’s next foal Dark Side, a colt by Mach Three, at the NZ Premier Yearling Sale on March 5.

Turkana’s dam Kisumu (Nero’s BB-Kinshasha) showed early speed winning a NZ Sires Stakes 2YO Fillies Championship, and 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 the Christian Seel maternal family as former NZ Breeders Stakes winner Time To Fly (eight wins) and former big-winning Victoria pacer, The Warp Drive (19 wins and $464,971).

Regan Todd chimed in to win the other fillies and mares maiden, the Studholme “Premier Yearlings” Mobile Pace, on Saturday, with Strata Star, which he trains from Overport Lodge, in 1:58.6.

Strata Star (Bettor’s Delight-Star Rhapsody), a half-sister to two-win mare Geo Star, showed good gate speed to lead early from gate six then eased to trail Zagami at the 1100m.

She finished best along the sprint lane to win by a length from strong finisher Tyron’s Falcon Ella, and Zagami, the leaders running their last 800m in 57.8s and the final 400m in 27.1s.

Smart Overport lodge mare Supreme Gem finished  a sound third from the second row in the $16,000 Christian Cullen Canterbury Mares Speed Series Final.

After settling back into the first turn, Mark had Supreme Gem on the impove to be parked at the half-way point.

She fought tenaciously in the run home but couldn’t hold the sit-sprint finish of Twilight Rascal, who improved three wide with cover and came clear to win in 1:55.7.

Twilight Rascal, trained by Kevin Chapman and driven by Stephen McNally, was rewarded after some useful placings in recent weeks, coming out on top by three-quarters of a length from good late finisher Temepara Cullen, with half a head back to Supreme Gem.