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Mark was not anticipating the result to be so good – but he wasn’t about to be disappointed.

Having set Smoke n Reactor one final task of a tough five-week campaign he was quite happy to scoop up the $7000 Met Multiplier bonus and head home.

But the speedy Auckland Reactor mare had other ideas. Settling three-deep and pushed to four back, driver Sam Ottley showed great patience to take a break for luck and it came, a split along the inside marker line paving way to late success in overhauling King Of Heroes near the line.

That added another $5300 to the $7000 bonus cheque that already awaited the mare in the birdcage – a successful night out for the Smith’s – Pete, Debra, and Pat – and WDC03 Ltd, Mark Jones.

“A bonus on top of the bonus,” said Mark.

“The Met Multiplier is a very good incentive to have.

“A wee bit unexpected to get the win but she got the right run and that’s her, she’s good enough.

“She has been busy and goes for a break now. I’m keen to bring her back and set her for the grass tracks races later on now.”

Mark Jones will take the easier road with smart Gore-winning three-year-old Willison (3g Bettor’s Delight – Classical Art) in the early stages of the season, and will let the horse tell him when he’s ready for something a bit tougher.

An expensive buy out of the APG Sales in Sydney, the regally-bred pacer showed all the ability needed in his two-year-old campaign, but was lightly raced due to a simple lack of maturity.

And Jones won’t be rushed into getting him to his very top until he’s ready for it, probably come Derby time next autumn.

“He’ll have a couple of easy weeks now, and we’ll head back down south for the Nugget Final with him and aim towards the Southern Supremacy races,” he said.

“He’s that type of horse that will let us know if he’s ready for the Derbies and the bigger races. He is eligible for the Sires Stakes but will go in those races only if I think he’s ready for it.

“There is no real major rush. A lovely horse like this may well end up doing his best work at four, five, and six-years-old, like the Bettor’s Delight often do.”

Very unlucky at Gore a race later was Plutonium Lady, never seeing daylight after being snookered on the fence five-deep in her maiden mobile.

Though disappointed Jones is looking forward to the spring with her, a filly he also rates highly despite her indifferent formline, mainly in top-grade fillies events last season.

“She can go on the Southland Oaks path, and I’ll probably bypass Auckland with her at Christmas – it is just a bit too tough,” he said.

Plutonium Lady is a sister to recent export (Wahs) Fire Bug, a maiden winner in 1:55 for Jones and owner-breeder Robert Famularo earlier this year at Winton before being sold to Scott McDonald in Sydney where she has won another four at Menangle taking a 1:52.2 mark, and also added a Group 3 placing in the South East Oaks at Albion Park.

The Bus broke back into the winners circle and completed a big day for owner Grant Hatton in winning at Albion Park on Saturday night (Aug 10).

Sent forward from gate three by driver Guy Chapple, The Bus made his way to the lead inside the opening 800m and was in control from that point, rating 1:56.0 (2138m) and home in 1:57.1 his final mile.

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=AP100819

After a rocky run of form wince winning at Menangle in March, The Bus looks set to kick into gear in Queensland for the Mark Jones-Aaron Goadsby stable.

Hatton bagged his second winner of the day as an owner after Willison (3g Bettor’s Delight – Classical Art) secured his maiden win at Gore in the hands of Sam Ottley.

The Australian sale purchase looks in for a good season after missing much of his two-year-old year due to immaturity.

Jones and Goasdsby went back-to-back at Albion Park with The Bus after Getarattleon won his first start on the track for the team on Friday night (Aug 9), successful in the hands of Grant Dixon and rating a very respectable 1:56.7 (2138m).

It had been a while since regally-bred mare Naiya Franco had won.

But Mark had not lost the faith in the daughter of former star pacing mare Nearea Franco.

Some 14 starts had passed since her January win at Oamaru without success, but often in fields of a good quality, particularly in mares events.

“She had been racing well, and though we’d had good draws at times, they were in the better fields. Then you draw poorly in the lesser ones and on any day a poor draw is still a tough draw to beat,” said Jones.

Stable driver Sam Ottley gave her a lovely run at Addington (Aug 2) coming from midfield then one-one to launch at the top of the straight and run down Friend (Ben Hope).

Naiya Franco is owned by Queensland resident Mark Denyer who has raced others with some success in the Mark Jones stable.

Ultimately a broodmare career looms, the Mach Three daughter of one of New Zealand’s best pacing mares is sure to produce foals of value further down the track.

KORBYN NEWMAN SCORES WITH LONG-SHOT WINNER

Burnham trainer Mark Jones was more than happy to assist junior driver Korbyn Newman with his third career win at Rangiora on Sunday, July 21.

Mark, a former World Champion driver, has been instrumental in developing the careers of younger drivers, Samantha Ottley, Robbie Close, Sheree Tomlinson and Laura McKay, and trainer, Regan Todd.

So he had no hesitation in putting Korbyn up for a third behind Lets Hustle in the juniors race at Addington last week, and behind 21-to-one long-shot winner, His Royal Harness, at Rangiora on Sunday.

“He’s not working for me but he just always helps at the races and asked for a drive,” Mark said.

“So he just happened be at the right time and in the right place and has been taught well from Benny Hill and Ricky May.”

“Young people deserve a chance and he makes the most of it.”

His Royal Harness, by the former Geoff Small-trained speedster Tintin In America (famous for siring champion North American mare Shartin), had struggled for form in his first four starts since resuming last month.

However, there were signs of improvement at Forbury last Thursday with his strong-finishing third for Sam Ottley behind Pocket Call and Delight Of Texas.

It was a top result for His Royal Harness’s co-owner, Mitchell Robertson, who also owns winner Pocket Call, trained by his father, Peter.

On Sunday, Korbyn, from the inside of the second row, put His Royal Harness to sleep five back on the markers, moved one out just before the final 800, then jumped on the three wide train at the 800m marker.

Circumstances went against them at the 500m when he was held up by the tiring Lincoln Skipper, but it turned out to be a blessing for the sit-sprinter.

Unico Enchantess had run clear for top driver Blair Orange turning for home but His Royal Harness sprouted wings wide for Korbyn in the straight to win going away by 1 and 3/4 lengths in 3:14.2 (2:00.1 mile rate) for the 2600m on the slushy track.

His Royal Harness, who won his first two races on grass tracks for fellow Canterbury trainer Chris McDowell, was recording his third win since entering the ownership of Mitchell Robertson, Steve Hill, Alastair McLay, Mike Moore and the Fomo (fear of missing out) Syndicate.

He had scored a penalty-free win first-up for them and the Jones stable at Addington last July for visiting North Island junior, Tony Cameron.

His Royal Harness has speed in his family, being from a Mach Three half-sister to Flashbang (1:55, four wins) and Famous Lover (TT, 1:56.1, four wins).

He’s also from the same family as former top Southland-bred 1970s and 80s pacers, Sassenach (12 wins), Ryal (nine wins), Shavande (five wins), Profiteer (six wins), Zabadak (11 wins) and Stampede (11 wins).

His Royal Harness has subsequently been withdrawn from this Sunday’s 50-60 One Smart Coffee Mobile Pace at Oamaru.