Latest News

Get the latest news & information from Mark Jones Harness Racing Stables

Gem wins Methven Mares mile

J Scott Latest News

 

SUPREME GEM RUNS 1:59.2 GRASS MILE


Smart racemare Supreme Gem added another string to her bow with a runaway win first-up on a grass surface in the $9000 First Christian Cullen Canterbury Mares Speed Series Heat at Methven on Sunday, December 11.

Sup_Gem_Rang_workoutLuckily for Overport trainer-driver Mark Jones, a false start was called when she tangled in the score-up on the first occasion, but she had no problems in the re-run.

Mark sent her to the front with 900m to run and she was much too good over her last 800m in 57.2s.

The Christian Cullen-Flying Sands mare came clear to win by 3 1/2 lengths from Nancy Miles and early leader Kamwood Laughter, pacing the mile on the grass in 1:59.2.

The race also carried a harness plus bonus for Supreme Gem, who took her career record to 16 starts for five wins and three placings, for $29,467 in stakes.

 

Supreme Gem is ideally credentialled for the series _ eligible for 4YO and older mares, with up to five wins and less than $50,000 in stakes at nomination of the first heat.

She was the second most tightly-assessed for the Methven heat, with only Together Again, the winner of seven but only five penalty-bearing, the most tightly-assessed. However Together Again, after settling back, failed to quicken in the run home finishing seventh.

 

Other $9000 heats over 1609m in the Christian Cullen Speed Series for 4YO and older mares will be run at Ashburton on December 26, Nelson on January 6.

A $12,500 heat will be run over 1950m at Addington on Saturday, February 4, with the $16,000 final to be run at Ashburton on Saturday, February 11.

Alex wins harness plus maiden

J Scott Latest News

 

ALEX WINS HARNESS PLUS MAIDEN


Burnham trainer Mark Jones showed good placement when Alex justified his $1.20 win favouritism to win a harness plus maiden, the Mainline Electrical Mobile Pace, at Forbury Park on Friday, December 9, 2011.

alex 3Alex (3g Courage Under Fire-Alegria), the younger brother to former smart filly Alexis (1:55.9), racing as Glenferrie Alexis in Victoria, credited Mark with his 15th training win for the term.

Alexis, the runnerup to Lauraella in the 2009 New Zealand Oaks when formerly trained by Mark for former Queensland owner Greg Brodie, has gone on to win 18 races and $225,583 in Australia, winning the Maryborough and Yarra Valley Cups this season.

Both Alexis and Alex are brothers to Jackaroozy (1:57), who also began his career at Overport Lodge and has taken his career record to six wins and 18 placings for $43,847 in stakes in New South Wales.

Their dam Alegria (Caprock-Miesque) is an unraced sister to former top pacer Mac De Stroyer (1:54.6, 11 NZ wins, & 1.49.8, US), who contested a NZ Cup for former Pukekohe trainer Todd MacFarlane, and half-sister to good mare Ill Informed (1:58.3, six wins & $80,424), who raced for Rolleston co-breeder, co-owner and trainer, Lindsay Blackmore.

Their dam Miesque (Plat du Jour-Nicky Trae) won once from two starts for Linsday Blackmore and was a sister to Dela Rentae (three wins), another winner for the Blackmores.

 

Nicky Trae (Jersey Hanover-Senatus) was a sister to another good Blackmore winner in Richina, who won seven in NZ before being exported to North America.

 

Alex , raced by Queensland breeder-owner Greg Brodie, was untroubled to lead throughout in a moderate field at Forbury, coming clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 2:48.2 for the mobile 2200m (2:03 mile rate), quickening over his last 800m in 57.5s and 400m in 28.8s.

The 3YO was given time to strength after placing once in six 2YO starts.

Mark was the dominating driver on the Forbury programme, notching four wins on the nine-race programme.

He combined with former boss Cran Dalgety for a winning double with favourites, Bettors Creek and Wotavugot.

 

Bettors Creek, like Alex, a $1.20 win favourite, led over the last 1900m of the 2-win Acme Metal & Drum Pace, coming clear to win by 1 3/4 lengths from Freyberg, who trailed and lodged a brief challenge early in the run home.

 

Mark stepped Wotavugot, another favourite, straight to the front in the 3-7 wins Custom Home Products Discretionary Pace and they were always in control, scoring easily by 2 1/2 lengths from Vic N Art, quickening over their last 800m in 56.6s.

 

Mark also stepped Lake Hood Lass well from an outside draw in the night’s opener, the City Ford Trot. The Continentalman mare, prepared by Ashburton breeder-owner-trainer Alex Millar, finished best to wear down Kayleighs Dream and also justify her win favouritism.

The four-win spree in the sulky lifted Mark to 24 driving wins for the season.

Glenferrie Magic sidelined

J Scott Former News, Latest News

 

GLENFERRIE MAGIC OFF TRACK


Glenferrie Magic, who showed much early promise for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, is unlikely to race again.

“At this stage she’s retired with problems in a hoof,” Mark said.

“She was probably our best one, but is too good to risk,” he said.

G_Magic

An embryo transfer by Christian Cullen from the three-year-old filly was taken off her in early November.

“She’ll go to the vets to be treated for another six-12 months,” Mark said.

“At this stage she’ll be a mother, which is frustrating. She was probably as good as any three-year-old filly this year but it always happens to the good ones,” he said.

“We’ll just have to find one to replace her, but it will be hard though.”

Mark says owner Peter Chambers was good about the setback, telling Mark he wanted to put the horse first above anything else.

“The vets say she could right in three months, or six months, but we’re not going to put her on the track if she’s not going to be 100 percent throughout her career,” he said.

 

The daughter of P Forty Seven and Time Flies raced only three times at two for a win and two seconds.

She was second to Dancing Diamonds in the Group Three Nevele R Stakes at the Cheviot meeting in March, then second again to Here We Go Again in the Listed $24,700 Caduceus Club Of Southland/ Nevele R Stud 2YO Fillies Pace at Invercagill.

Glenferrie Magic won her final start, a $14,000 Magness Benrow Siees Stakes Fillies Heat, at last start at Forbury in April, holding Alchemist and Here We Go Again, in a 1:59.1 mile rate for the 1700m.

Waikato team win Drivers Series

J Scott Latest News

 

BUTCHER/MITCHELL WIN DRIVERS SERIES


The Canterbury team of Mark Jones and Dexter Dunn had little luck In the American Ideal Provincial Drivers Championship at Invercargill on Sunday, November 20, having to settle for fifth.

The Waikato pairing of David Butcher and Todd Mitchell were decisive winners, accumulating 31 points.

Butcher and Mitchell won three of the five invited drivers races _ the former scoring with Simply Genius and Arancia _ and Mitchell with capable trot mare Larix.

Butcher’s 21 points also made him the individual champion, finishing well clear of runnerup, Southland’s Jonny Cox with 17.

The Auckland team of Zac Butcher and Brent Mangos were runnerups in the teams competition on 23 points, followed by Mid Canterbury 21, Southland 20, Canterbury 18, Otago, 12, and Central Districts 5.

David Butcher, and brother Philip, won the Brothers series on heritage day at Oamaru last Saturday, November 19.

The Butcher brothers were recording their third consecutive win in the novelty Oamaru drivers competition.

The Butchers’ failed to rein a winner in the five-race series, but amassed 87 points through placings.

They scored by a point over Dexter and John Dunn, who combined to win three of the five races but still came up a point short.

Matthew and Nathan Williamson were third with 85 points.

Provincial Drivers Champ _ Sunday

J Scott Latest News

 

MARK RETURNS FOR PROVINCIAL DRIVERS SERIES


Another great line up, featuring many of New Zealand’s best harness racing reinsmen, has been assembled for the American Ideal Provincial Drivers Championship at Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill this Sunday (November 20).

 

Each region is represented where possible by their top two drivers from the previous year’s premiership, a format that ensures a star studded line up each year.

 

Southland is the current champion, the duo of Nathan Williamson and Brent Barclay taking the title for the home team last year. This season Williamson returns with Jonny Cox to represent Southland as they look to defend the title.

 

Up against them are some strong teams. Canterbury will again be a tough combination to beat with the pairing of Dexter Dunn and Mark Jones, the team which won the title for the Cantabs in 2008. Dunn, the individual champion at this Championship for the past two years, became the first driver in New Zealand to record 200 wins in a season in 2009 at the age of 19, winning the New Zealand Drivers Premiership in the process.

 

That was his second Drivers’ Premiership and he has now won the Premiership four years in a row, lifting the bar yet again with 220 winners in New Zealand last season. Since that time he has raced in the USA, finishing fourth in the World Drivers Championship and driving 10 winners in the States. He also leads the current year’s Premiership in New Zealand. His team mate Mark Jones, the World Driving Champion in 2003, ensures the Canterbury team is a very formidable combination.

 

Waikato, as usual, will also field an all star combination. David Butcher was the first driver to surpass two million dollars of stakes in a season while Todd Mitchell has driven four New Zealand Cup winners among other successes.

 

Ricky May, the winner of five New Zealand Cups, and driver of over 2000 winners spearheads the Mid Canterbury challenge and is ably supported by Gerard O’Reilly. Zac Butcher and Brent Mangos will try and earn Auckland their first title since 2002 while Matthew Williamson and Andrew Faulks will carry the hopes of Otago as they try to take the title for the first time. Stephen Doody and Scott Dickson are familiar campaigners for the Central Districts team which has twice before taken the team honours.

 

Six of the top ten drivers from last year’s Premiership will be on show at Ascot Park Raceway on Sunday.

 

Auckland:

Zac Butcher, Brent Mangos

Waikato:

David Butcher, Todd Mitchell

Central Districts:

Stephen Doody, Scott Dickson

Canterbury:

Dexter Dunn, Mark Jones

Mid Canterbury:

Ricky May, Gerard O’Reilly

Otago:

Matthew Williamson, Andrew Faulks

Southland:

Nathan Williamson, Jonny Cox

 

The drivers go into a ballot for their drives with points allocated over the five heats to find both the team and individual winners. First place in each of the heats is worth 10 points, second – 7 points, third – 5 points, fourth 3 points and fifth – 1 point.

 

The country’s leading Amateur Drivers will also race in their own series on Sunday with teams from Auckland, Waikato, Canterbury and Southland contesting a series of races.

 

Auckland:

Danny Blakemore, Glennis Ryan

Waikato:

Johnny Butcher, Stewart Ashworth

Canterbury:

Gavin Cook, Mike Maynard

Southland:

Michelle Caig, Derek Moore

 

There will also be Kidz Kartz races on the programme while the day will feature free children’s entertainment with a Merry Go Round and Bouncy Castles, free lollies plus a free McDonald’s Cheeseburger voucher for every child on course.

 

Racing starts at 12.36pm on Sunday and admission to the course on the day is free.

 

Prizegiving and an aftermatch function will take place at the Ascot Park Hotel Tavern at the conclusion of racing.

 

PROVINCIAL DRIVERS SERIES PAST WINNERS

(Year) – Winning Individual / Winning Team

1990 – K Larsen / Southland Under 20

1991 – A Butt / Canterbury

1992 – A Butt / Waikato

1993 – K Barron / Southland

1994 – T Walsh / Mid Canterbury

1995 – J Gould / Central Districts

1996 – G Cowie / Mid Canterbury

1997 – A Malcolmson / Mid Canterbury

1998 – A Hunter / Southland

1999 – C De Fillipi / Canterbury

2000 – C De Fillipi / Canterbury

2001 – C Barron / Southland

2001 – S Doody / Southland

2002 – M McKendry / Auckland

2003 – P Ferguson / Waikato

2004 – C Barron / Southland

2005 – R May / Central Districts

2006 – B Barclay / Southland

2007 – M Jones / Waikato

2008 – R May / Canterbury

2009 – D Dunn / Canterbury

2010 – D Dunn / Southland

 

Courtesy of Lindsay Beer, Promotions Officer Southern Harness Racing Inc. (03 217 4288 021 351 499 lindsay.beer@xtra.co.nz)

 

Yearling Sales races go up

J Scott Latest News

 

YEARLING SALE RACES INCREASE


Having reviewed the budget figures, the N.Z. Sires Stakes Board is pleased to announce the following stake increases for the harness racing PGG Wrightson Yearling Sales three-year-old division for this season.

3 Y.O. Open Pace    ATC              December 31    $250,000 to $275,000

3 Y.O. Fillies           NZMTC         February 4      $150,000 to $200,000

3 Y.O. Trotters        Rang @ Add  March 1           $70,000 to $85,000

The increases, which are relative to each pool, ensure that the Sales Series races remain in the top echelon of race stakes for three year olds within Australasia.

Courtesy of Doreen Graham, Secretary/Manager NZ Sires Stakes Board




 

Sarkozy sold to WA

J Scott Former News, Latest News

 

SARKOZY SOLD TO WEST AUSTRALIA

 

 Sarkozy, distinctive in his Canterbury racing last term with his bold white nose, has been sold out of the Mark Jones stable to race from the West Australian stables of Justin Prentice.

Sark_Add

The 4YO McArdle-Oh So Precious gelding made useful progress through the grades winning three of seven starts last season, banking $13,709 for owners Frances and Max Bowden, and Max’s son Lyndon.

 

His last win was in a strong 3:17.4 for the stand start 2600m at Rangiora on May 8, running his last 800m in 57.9s to win comfortably.

He had been shaping well at the workouts for Mark this term before a suitable offer arrived on the table.

Ohoka Vermont, an unraced McArdle colt from Millwood Petrouchka, formerly owned by Katie Carville, has also been sold out of the stable to clients of Shane Graham’s stables in Brisbane.

He qualified as a 2YO over one mile at Ashburton in 2:04.3 in April before being spelled and had been good winning two workouts in recent weeks.

 

 

 

FORBURY FRIDAY DOUBLE

 

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones brought up his 10th and 11th training wins for the season with a winning double at Forbury Park on Friday, November 4.

Mark had joint favourites _ Supreme Gem and Western Flare _ in the 3-6 wins Bidvest Foodservice Discretionary Pace, but after the former was always travelling like the winner after making a great beginning at her first stand start.

Supreme Gem, well rated in front, dashed away at the 400m and kept going to score easily by 1 1/4 lengths from Indrah, Maddison Renee (trail) and Lifes Decision.

 

Stablemate Western Gem was hemmed away three deep over the final lap and was unable to reel in the leaders with a marker run in the straight for Regan Todd.

Supreme Gem paced the 2700m in 3:31.6, quickening over her last 800m in 57.2s and final 400m in 27.6s.

 

Her dam Flying Sands notched of the first two of 11 career wins from 48 starts at Forbury Park when trained by the late Peter Cowan.  

Supreme Gem, a daughter of top racehorse and sire Christian Cullen, took her record to four wins and two placings from 12 starts for $23,039 in stakes for owners Chatsworth Lodge Ltd, Mrs Pat Dowie, and John and Christine McDermott.

Awesome Prospect, having his third start for Mark, cleared out to win the 1-2 wins Mainline Electrical Mobile Pace at Forbury by 4 1/4 lengths.

The Live Or Die gelding appreciated an easier race after two strong efforts in Canterbury for Mark since transferring from Mark Smolenski’s barn.

Awesome Prospect, raced by Gore owner Pat Kubala under his Charlton Park Enterprises Ltd banner, had been solid since recording his previous win on the grass at Reefton in March.

He took his career record three wins and 10 placings from 32 starts for $22,123 in stakes on Friday.

Awesome Prospect, after being kept out of the early rush, was sent forward for the front mid-race, taking over from Sea Storm at the 1400m.

He maintained a strong clip over the final lap, pacing the mobile 2200m in 2:45.6 (2:01.1 mile rate), quickening over his last 800m in 57.6s and final 400m in 27.4s.


By Jeff Scott


 

Ohoka Texas . . . 1:54.1

J Scott Former News, Latest News

 

OHOKA TEXAS WINS WINTON MILE

 

 

Ohoka Texas raced up to expectations for Overport trainer Mark Jones, and junior driver Regan Todd, in his Winton debut on Sunday, October 16, equalling the track mile mark of 1:54.1.

The Christian Cullen-Millwood Touche entire blazed over his final 800m in 54.8s and his closing 400m in a sizzling 26.7s to equal Nuclear Byrd’s mile when trained by the late Eric Ryan in December 1997 _ then the NZ mile record.

Auckland Reactor subsequently lowered the NZ male mile mark to 1:52.9 at Ashburton in February.

Former top mare Kiwi Ingenuity holds the honour of pacing NZ’s fastest mile with her 1:52.1 to win the 4YO Jewels Emerald in 2009.

 

Regan was determined to get $1.60 favourite Ohoka Texas home after being outfinished on a couple of favourites in junior driver races earlier this month.

 

But Ohoka Texas, after smart workout wins at Rangiora and Motukarara in recent weeks, didn’t let Regan or his supporters down, leading up to hold Victoria Derby placegetter Matt Maguire (parked mostly) by half a length.

 

Miss Moonlite, who trailed on the outer, fought well for third a further half a length away, being race-timed in 1:54.3.

Trainer Mark Jones says Ohoka Texas isn’t properly screwed down yet. He believes there will be improvement in the horse heading into races at next month’s New Zealand Cup meeting.

Sunday’s win was a well-placed penalty free win for the stable newcomer, who remains on a 3-win assessment.

Last season’s Southern Supremacy 3YO Final winner notched his seventh win from just 14 starts, taking his earnings to $69,497, for owners Katie, Adam and Olivia Carville.

Ohoka Texas wins workout

J Scott Former News, Latest News

 

OHOKA TEXAS WINS HEAT

 

Ohoka Texas will head to Winton next Sunday, October 16, on the back of two smart workout wins since teaming up with Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones.

 

The Christian Cullen-Millwood Touche entire is set to contest a 2-3 win junior drivers race over 1609m, with Regan Todd to steer the 4YO in search of a first-up penalty-free handicapping win.Texas_Rang_workout

 

Ohoka Texas resumes on a 3-win assessment, having already scored three penalty-free 3YO handicap concession wins last term.

 

He moved up in the open over the final lap and was a nose winner over former NZ Derby winner Captain Peacock on a rain-affected track at the Motukarara workouts on Saturday, October 8.

 

Ohoka Texas ran the mobile 2200m in 2:49.2, the leaders quickening over their last 800m in 59.8s and final 400m in 28.3s.

 

A week earlier he was all business on a fast track over his last 800m in 56.3s and final 400m in 27.4s at the Rangiora workouts on Saturday, October 1.

Last season’s Southern Supremacy Stakes Final winner led over the last mile of a 2600m stand workout and came clear to win by three lengths, pacing the full 2600m in a leisurely 3:28.4.


Sarkozy (Blair Orange), handy on the outer, then left in the open when River Black took over at the 600m, was a sound fourth in the one win and faster mobile 2000m heat.

Mister Presley, after leading at the 900m, then trailing River Black at the 600m, finished best to score by half a head in 2:30.3, the last 800m in 58.5s.

Princeton, driven by Mark, led at the 1200m, then was shuffled three deep at the 600m. He was less than three lengths from the winner at the finish, in sixth position.

2yo_wrk_Rang_Oct_1_2011

 

Atombob had a quiet run back on the inner throughout in a non-win mobile 2000m heat won by front-running Texican in 2:33.5, the last 800m in 57.5s.

Two-year-old pacers, Glenferrie Patrol (Christian Cullen-Rondel Franco c) and McLeods Maiden (Mach Three-Shimmering Star f) were the only starters in a 2YO mobile pacer over 2000m.

McLeods Maiden led up for Blair Orange, with Glenferrie Patrol (Regan) trailing and getting up in the straight to win by half a head in 2:53.3.

 

The juveniles quickened over their last 800m in 63.8s and final 400m in 30.5s.

 

Glenferrie Patrol, bred and owned by Peter Chambers, is the third foal from Rondel Franco (Falcon Seelster-Reigning Franco), who won only twice in NZ but went on to make her mark in North America.

 

Rondel Franco retired with a 1:51.6 mie mark and a career record of 37 wins and 47 placings from 153 starts, for $684,003 in stakes.

 

By Jeff Scott


Bob plays iron horse

J Scott Latest News

 

BABES BOY BOB OUTSTAYS RIVALS


Babes Boy Bob, who played the iron horse over the final lap to win at Methven on Sunday, October 9, will try and keep his good form going in a 5-win front race over 2400m at Ashburton on Labour Day.

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones says Babes Boy Bob found the right race last week. Mark__Bob

 

Babes Boy Bob, owned in Melbourne by Merv and Meg Butterworth, backed up a good third to NZ Cup nominee Terror To Love at Addington with a comfortable 1 1/4 lengths win at Methven.

After starting off 10m in the 3-4 wins Neumanns Tyre Service Handicap Pace, Babes Boy Bob moved up parked over the final lap to hold Datmymulligan in 3:10.6 (2400m), the leaders running their last 800m in 59.7s.

“He’s done some work last week which he doesn’t normally do, which was encouraging,” Mark said.

“We might look at Ashburton next week, then the Geraldine Cup with him.”

“He’s a good follower of speed so we’ll look at the country cups around Christmas time.

Mark opted for the lightweight theory on the grass track by engaging Ricky May for Babes Boy Bob.

“You can’t do much better than put Ricky on. It was good that he drove him the way he did,” he said.

Mark brought up his seventh and eighth wins for the season last weekend, with Ardlussa Express delivering as a warm favourite for the same owners in the 1-2 win Forbury Park Function Centre Mobile Pace on Thursday, October 6.

Mark reined Adlussa Express to a half-length front-running win over fellow Cantab visitors, Bedtime and Cullens Moose, in 2:46.9 for the mobile 2200m.

The Falcon Seelster gelding quickened over his last 800m in 57.2s and closing 400m in 28.4s.

“He fell in the right race and worked out to be a good weekend for me,” he said.