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BIG BOXING DAY FOR BRENT WARD

Boxing Day, 2011, was memorable for two new lifestyle developments for big scoring provincial rugby full back Brent Ward.

He became engaged to partner Sarah only a few hours before cheering Saskia Finn home to win a maiden at Westport _ his first win as a racehorse owner.

Brent co-owns Saskia Finn with last year’s Crusaders team-mate Zac Guildford, and a team of other Mark Jones stable owners _ including Mike and Helen Finlayson, Nathan Brown, and the Riverside Boxing Club Syndicate.

“I thought it might have been a good omen (getting engaged the same day),” Brent said.

“We were just sitting around on Boxing Day and watched it. We were stoked,” he said.

Saskia Finn, a game third on debut at Winton in her debut on December 17, moved up parked over the final 1000m on Boxing Day and fought tenaciously to score by a neck over Christian Acropolis in the hands of her trainer.

She again made a move to be parked mid-race, this time with 1200m to run first-up in the 1-win grade on the second day at Westport on Wednesday, December 28.

After gaining cover from the 1000m ran on solidly for third behind front-running Cheryl West and Unico Rose (trail).

Brent had been visiting Lake Taupo this week and was in phone conversation with his rugby mate after Monday’s success.

“Zac is in Napier, but we had a good chat and enjoyed the moment,” he said.

“We went in one earlier with Jonesy, which was meant to race after Christmas, but was sold to Australia before racing here. Its been great to get us involved.”

“I think Zac’s been involved in a couple of others but this is my first to race,” he said.

Ward, 32, who has played 36 Super rugby matches combined for the Hurricanes, Blues and latterly the Crusaders, is unsigned with a franchise this year.

Saskia Finn, a three-year-old filly by former top American pacer and now sire Artsplace, is bred to be handy.

She is the first foal from the unraced Maggie Finn, by Badlands Hanover from the former good North American winning grey mare Clearly Visible (1:54, 11 wins and $171,543).

Clearly Visible, a daughter of Laag, was imported to NZ by Clive and Rona McKay. She met with mixed success at stud before she died in 2006.

By Jeff Scott

MARK McNAMARA EXTENDS OWNERSHIP RECORD

Racecaller Mark McNamara says Champagne Franco’s debut win at Rangiora on Sunday, December 18, was an unexpected bonus, especially after drawing the outside of the second row over the 2000m from a stand.

“I just wanted to win a race sometime. I didn’t expect to get it first-up,” he said.

The Canterbury-based broadcaster is fashioning a useful record as an owner with runners at the Overport Lodge stables of Mark Jones, having won earlier races as a co-owner of Union Buster and Anita Patron.

He selected Champagne Franco at the 2010 NZ Premier Yearling Sale, with his partner then, and now wife Katie, securing her at the sale for $20,000.

“I wanted one when I first moved over. I had some long service money available and I liked a colt that has since qualified a couple of weeks ago, but doesn’t look like he’s going to be much good,” he said.

The colt was outside his reach, but he also liked Champagne Franco on breeding, and after he found her to be kicking a wall in her box, when he inspected her pre-sale.

“I thought she’s got some attitude. I thought she’d go for more than that but we ended up with her.”

Despite that kicking session, the filly, also aptly known as “bubbles”,  has settled down to be very tractable.

“She’s pretty sensible and has a placid nature. I drive her most mornings and Katie drives her a bit too,” Mark said.

“I was actually at the Riccarton races when we bought her,” Mark recalled.

“Katie was bidding for me. I was at the start for a 1600m maiden. I can still see it, it was cold and pouring with rain,” he said.

The McNamaras’ race Champagne Franco with Katie’s dad Steve, and Mark’s mate Aaron Goadsby, who works as a stablehand in New South Wales.

Mr Goadsby, who Mark McNamara met going to Sydney harness racing meetings some 10 years ago, was a groomsman at the McNamara wedding last month.

According to Mr McNamara, Mr Goadsby was delighted to watch Champagne Franco register his first win as an owner on NZ soil on Sunday.

Because of the filly’s size, trainer Mark Jones always said she’d be a three-year-old before she raced.

He stepped her well from the horror barrier draw to end up in mid outer position on settling.

Mark had her on the move three wide beginning the final 800m to be parked outside the leader at the 500m.

Champagne Franco kicked well turning for home, holding strong late finisher Franco Harrison by a length in 2:34.4 for the 2000m, the leaders running their last 800m in 57.9s.

She will now try for more of the same at the upcoming Banks Peninsula meeting on December 29.

Champagne Franco is bred to win races. She is the first foal from Crusader Franco (TT, 1:58.6, four wins), while Crusader Franco’s grand-dam dam Cherubic, won six including the 1993 Pascoe Jewellers Great Northern Oaks for West Melton trainer Ian Shinn.

Cherubic (Tuapeka Knight-Chin Chin Cherie) has been a successful broodmare leaving seven sub 2:00 winners including fast North American winner Franco Catapult (1:49.4 & over $US613,974), Franco Conquest (1:53.4, US) and Franco Croupier (1:54.8, US).

By Jeff Scott

TEXAS RUNS RIVALS RAGGED

Emerging 4YO stayer Ohoka Texas is to be reserved for either the $40,000 Pelorus 4YO Classic or the $20,000 Marlborough Cup at Waterlea on January 15 after he destroyed a handy field in the 3-win and faster $18,000 Wairio Cup at Winton on Saturday December 17.

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, after reviewing options, has decided against starting him in the $20,000 Wesport Cup on Boxing Day at Patterson Park.

Ohoka Texas, after settling in midfield early in the Wairio Cup, was sent to the front with 1200m to run and kept the pace strong with second favourite Franco Ledger working outside him.

Franco Ledger ducked in for cover on the home turn but Ohoka Texas was revelling in his work, clearing out in the run home to win an impressive 6 1/4 lengths. There was 4 1/2 lengths back to No Courage Russell with the others coming in at intervals.

Ohoka Texas, who equalled the Winton track 1609m record of 1:54.1 first-up for the season in October, smashed the clock again, this time over 2400m from a stand with a track record.

He paced the journey in 2:57.7 (1:59.9 mile rate) _ 1.1s inside the former track mark for a male pacer set by subsequent Grand Circuit pacer Bettor’s Strike in the 2009 Winton Cup and 2.6s outside the NZ mark of 2:55.1 set by former dual New Zealand Cup winner Flashing Red when beating Mainland Banner by a head in the 2006 Ashburton Flying Stakes.

Jamie holds the mares’ Winton track mark and NZ mares record from a stand with her 2:57.2 set when winning the 2006 Wairio Cup.

Ohoka Texas ran his rivals ragged over his last 800m in 54.9s and his closing 400m in 27.4s.   

“I had a bit of luck but he went super,” Mark said.

Ohoka Texas, last season’s Group Two Southern Supremacy Stakes Final winner, took his 4YO record to three wins and a second.

Mark gave Ohoka Texas 10 days off to freshen after also running his rivals ragged in a 3-win pace at Addington on Show day, November 11.

He won that day by 10 1/2 lengths over stablemate Ardlussa Express in a sharp 1:56.7 rate for the 1950m, his last 800m in 56.2s. A Rangiora workout Ohoka Texas topped the horse off for Winton.

The Overport Lodge team were in good touch at Winton.

Three-year-old filly Holme Fire moved up parked over the final 800m and fought tenaciously to hold Terrific and Repeat After Me in the Highway Services Mobile Maiden Pace.

The Courage Under Fire filly, a sister to Friday night’s Kumeu Founders Cup winner Pembrook Benny, paced the mobile 2400m in 3:00.8 (2:01.2 mile rate), the leaders running their last 800m in 57.8s and final 400m in 28.6s.

Jellignite (Regan Todd) trailed Dream Out Loud (Sam Ottley) in a strong 2-3 wins Macca Lodge Junior Drivers Mobile Pace and fought well for a half a length second.

Dream Out Loud held in a smart 2:56.6 (1:58.4 mile rate) for the mobile 2400m, running his last 800m in 57s and final 400m in 27.4s.

Maiden filly, Saskia Finn, on debut in the Merry Xmas From CRT Pace, stepped safely from the ace and was soon trailing Young Tommy.

After Hellboy went to the front mid-race, she moved up parked over the last 1000m and fought well for third, a length from front-running Hellboy, and half a length behind Young Tommy.

By Jeff Scott

FIRST FOR TREVOR WARD IN AMATEUR TOTE RACE

Met Five Syndicate pacer Western Flare credited former NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club deputy chairman Trevor Ward with his first totalisator driving win in the amateur drivers race at Rangiora on Wednesday, December 7.

Mr Ward enjoyed the occasion with many directors of the club. He had built up friendships with them during his 17 years as an administrator with the club before ending his term with the club.

His good friend Blair Cartwright, who manages the Syndicate, booked him for the drive.

Another former Metropolitan Club administrator Richard Sissons could have been a contender for the Western Flare drive, but was happy to retain the drive on Bowenvale, who finished fourth.

Mr Sissons had earlier reined Bowenvale in the previous amateur race on November 22 for trainer Mike Stratford.

“Western Flare was really nice to drive,” Mr Ward said.

“As the winner of eight races, I just didn’t want to get beaten with him,” he said.

Western Flare, a $1.50 win favourite, rolled straight to the front and was always in control, holding Tyler Franco (Gavin Cook) by 1 3/4 lengths in a comfortable 2:32 for the mobile 2000m, running his last 800m in 58s.

This was Mr Ward’s sixth racedrive, having recorded a raceday third last season.

Mr Ward attended the first driving course back in 2002. He is now chairman of the NZ Amateur Drivers Association.

“Betting on the amateur race was $60,000, the most for any race on the day,” he said.

Western Flare has now won $39,918 in stakes from nine career wins (seven penalty-bearing) from 39 starts.

He was also well rated in front at his previous Manawatu start by Zac Butcher to win at Palmerston North, rating 2:00.6 for the mobile 2000m, to hold fellow Cantab Julius Bardon by a neck.

By Jeff Scott

OHOKA TEXAS IMPRESSIVE WINNER

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones felt he might not have gone too slow with Ohoka Texas when nosed out by Magical Mel on NZ Cup day, but non-one could get close to him over the final lap at Addington on Show day, November 11, 2011.

Mark and Ohoka Texas claimed the biggest win of the premier week when distancing their rivals by 10 1/2 lengths in the 3 win $13,250 Fahey Fence Hire Mobile Pace pace over the mobile 1950m.

Ohoka Texas raced several classes above his rivals on the day.

Mark eased him back to last early of the seven from an outside draw, then began to roll him forward from the 1400m to be parked outside Courageous Jay beginning the final lap.

He was in front at the 1000m. Mark let him stride down the back and he had most of them of his rivals off the bit by the 600m.

He was six lengths clear before Mark activated the pull-down blinds turning for home, destroying his rivals as he kept going to win by a street.

“He doesn’t show you a lot of high speed he can sustain a strong run like that,” Mark said.

Ohoka Texas, a 4YO Christian Cullen entire raced by Katie, Adam and Olivia Carville, rated a smart 1:56.7 in the cool conditions, giving nothing else a chance over his last 800m in 56.2s and final 400m in 28.5s.

He is bred to be above average being the first foal from the good Live Or Die racemare Millwood Touche (1:56, nine wins), who raced for the Mark Purdon/Grant Payne team.



Millwood Touche’s dam Quiet Touch (Boyden Hanover-Queen To Be) was another smart mare, winning 10 races for trainer Ian Shinn, and owners the late Wayne Francis, Barrie Barber and Malcolm Shinn.

Quiet Touch (1:57.8) was the 1986 NZ 4YO Pacing Mare of the Year, winning a NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes and an Ashburton Cup, and also running thirds in an Auckland Cup and a NZ Messenger 4YO Championship.

It was an Overport Lodge quinella in the Fahey Fence Hire Mobile Pace with stablemate Ardlussa Express (Ricky May) best of the chasers, finishing on late from three back on the markers.  Northerner Merv ran on wide out for third, with upset Tuesday winner Courageous Jay next.

Supreme Gem, the only other starter for the Overport Lodge team on Friday, was a strong-finishing third from an awkward second row draw behind Paddy Brown and Miss Elsie in the 2-4 wins Peninsular Resort Mooloolaba Mobile Pace for fillies and mares.

Front-running Paddy Brown made the most of an improved draw from Tuesday for co-trainer Mark Purdon, holding by a head, with Supreme Gem doing well wide out for third half a length back, the winner rating 2:00.3 for the 1950m.



MARK DELIVERS WITH MAH SISH

Mark Jones provided a minor highlight in the support races on NZ Cup day 2011, teaming up with the Dean Taylor-trained Mah Sish to win the 4-6 wins James Pascoe Ltd Mobile Pace.  

“He’s a very good as he showed today,” Mark said.

Mah Sish had no favours from a horror draw, moving up parked over the final 1000m and dug deep to wear down pacemaker Charge Forward, then hold a late marker run from Our Boy Su.

The five-year-old Mach Three gelding kept giving to score by half a length in a 1:55.4 mile rate for the 1950m, the leaders running their last 800m in 56.1s.

Mark has driven him in all but two of his seven wins from just 11 starts, for $52,115 in stakes.

He was hoping for a winning double with stable runner Ohoka Texas in the 3 wins $30,000 Blue Star Taxis Mobile Pace, but they were denied in the last bound by Magical Mel and Dexter Dunn.

After going to the front mid-race, Ohoka Texas fought well but came up a nose short, the winner pacing the mobile 2600m in 3:15.4 (2:00.9 mile rate), the last 800m in 56.7s.

Mark also settled for an honest placings with his other stable runner, Ardlussa Express, on Cup day.

Ardlussa Express furthered his solid formline, running on stoutly late for third behind upset winner Courageous Jay, and Te Kinga Boy, in the $20,000 2-3 win Southern Demolition & Salvage Free-For-All.

By Jeff Scott