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SARKOZY NOTCHES HAT-TRICK

Sarkozy’s good manners from a stand again helped him to notch his third win on end at the Rangiora meeting on May 8.

Mark had him handily placed handy on the outer over the first lap of the 1-2 win Goodwin Contracting Pace, then sent him to the front beginning the last lap.

The promising McArdle gelding dashed clear turning for him and he did enough to hold late-closing second favourite Far Too Rusty by a neck in 3:17.4 (2600m stand), a mile rate of 2:02.1.

Sarkozy ran his last 800m in 57.9s and final 400m in 29.4s to rack up his third win from six starts.

The winning spree of Sarkozy has resurrected the light blue and red colours of co-owner Max Bowden, a former syndicator, who enjoyed good success in the early 1990s when the same colours were carried to victory with syndicate horses.

The colours made a return last winter when San Fran Lady won three under the guidance of Mark Jones before being sold to New South Wales interests.

One of Mr Bowden’s best syndicate horses was Funky Town, who numbered five wins from only 23 starts including the 1991 DB Draught Nelson Centenntial Cup, when trained by Erin Crawford and driven by Colin De Filippi, for the Max Bowden Guys And Dolls Syndicate.

Funky Town was a son of Clever Innocence, the Nero stallion Mr Bowden imported from North America before on-selling him to Neville Benny of Spring Park Stud.

Also in the early 90s, Max had high hopes for a Direct Scooter colt he brought to New Zealand called Kiwi Almahurst, who won six of 20 starts when prepared by Brian Saunders, before being exported to Australia.

One of Mr Bowden’s best former horses was former smart young 1980s pacer Lyndon Robert (named after his son, now a co-owner of Sarkozy).

The pacer Lyndon Robert, a Nardins Byrd gelding who won 12 of 47 starts when trained by Robert Dunn, before being exported to North America.

 

“We purchased three broodmares about six years ago and we’re just getting into it again, ” said Max, who had a break from racehorse ownership after becoming Harness Racing New Zealand for a term in the mid to late 1990s.

Emcil, the Miles McCool dam of earlier winners bred by Mr and Mrs Bowden in San Fran Lady and Union Buster (both in NSW), is now represented in the Jones stable by 3YO pacer Princeton.

The Bettor’s Delight gelding has been given time to develop after finishing unplaced at his race debut at Ashburton in February.

Oh So Precious, the Son Of Afella dam of Sarkozy, was one of the mares Mr Bowden’s wife Frances, purchased, She has Sarkozy leased to herself, Max, and Lyndon.

After leaving a year young P-Forty-Seven filly and another filly to Riverboat King, now a yearling, Oh So Precious died last year, aged 15.

Mrs Bowden also has a 5YO Live or Die mare from Oh So Precious called Eliza Griffiths, and has a 4YO Julius Caesar mare Blanca Martinez, leased to northern horseman Tommy Cowan.

The Bowdens’ were attracted to the family as Browngate Missy, the Tudor Hanover dam of Oh So Precious, left three four big winning pacers towards the end of her breeding career.

Oh So Precious also belongs to the same family as former smart fillies Steady Lady (1:55.4, US), Steady Niatross, Magnificent Yield and Speedy Girl.

By Jeff Scott

‘MAGIC’ OUT OF FINAL

Overport trainer Mark Jones has been left with only one starter _ Holme Fire _ in the $170,000 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes Fillies championship at Auckland on Friday night, May 6.

Stablemate Glenferrie Magic was withdrawn on Tuesday after suffering from muscle tie-up, the end result of waiting in Blenheim for three-four days then having a rough ferry crossing from Picton to Wellington.

“Its a shame because she was as good as we could get her before she went up,” said trainer Mark Jones.

Mark said she would have been very hard to beat at Auckland if she was in the same form as when she won her Sires Fillies Heat at Forbury last month.

“She hoppled up on Saturday morning and went pretty good but she was crook on Saturday night. I had a better report today but I’d rather bring her home and get her ready for the Jewels,” he said.

Both Glenferrie Magic and Holme Fire and booked to fly back to Christchurch on Sunday morning.

Mark said Anthony Butt will retain the drive behind Holme Fire for Friday’s Group One.

“I don’t worry as much as some drivers about keeping the drive,” he said.

“She (Holme Fire) seems good. The club cancelled the two-year-old race last week and the club were good putting her in two other races, but I decided to trial her on Saturday instead.”

Holme Fire, shown winning her Sires’ Heat at Rangiora. She has drawn well for Friday night’s final.

Holme Fire has drawn barrier three for Friday’s 1700m dash for cash.

Mark expects Dancing Diamonds and Veste, from the Mark Purdon/Grant Payne stable, and the Ian Small-trained Cowgirls N Indians, to be the hardest to beat.

BEAU BRUMMELL TROTS NZ 2YO RECORD

Beau Brummell, the first of four winning drives for Burnham driver Mark Jones at Timaru on Sunday, May 1, surprised with a New Zealand record win for a two-year-old colt or gelding squaregaiter.

The Earl gelding’s good manners helped him capitalise on a perfect trail to take out the Opihi Vineyard Juvenile Mobile Trot.

Beau Brummell finished determinedly along the inner to wear down first-starter Another Love in 2:34.4 for the mobile 2000m, a mile rate of 2:04.2. His time was 0.4 inside the month old mark set by Flying Isa at Rangiora on March 30.

Until the last few months, the NZ mobile 2000m 2YO trot male juvenile record was of 2:37.7, set by Special Branch when he won the 1998 NZ 2YO Trotting Stakes at Addington _ the last year it was run over 2000m before the feature trot was shortened to 1950m.

Gee’s Pride, the two-year-old filly record over the mobile 2000m, recorded a quicker 2:32.6 when wnnning the 1997 NZ 2YO Trotting Stakes at Addington.

“Beau Brummell is no star or nothing like that but has good manners,” said Mark Jones, who also prepares the solid young trotter.

“He’s got no worse and a few others have got a bit better. I’ve changed his training and backed off him a bit lately and it was also a good run from him a few days earlier (when second) at the Tuesday meeting there.”

“The owners turned down good money for him, so there decision has been vindicated. He’ll run in the Sires Stakes Final next then take his chance in the Jewels.”

Beau Brummell, the first foal from the unraced Lady Boo Kay, by Sundon from the former smart mare Zola’s Pride (eight trot wins), is raced by Timaru accountant Graham Stoddart, “Beer” McCutheon, Kevin Schmack, P Darby, “Bub” Phillips and “Pup” Hulston.

“They were over the moon. The were given the horse and are just enjoying having a bit of fun,” Mark said.

SARKOZY WINS DOUBLE

Mark topped and tailed the Timaru programme as a trainer, producing improving three-year-old pacer Sarkozy for back-to-back wins in his latest racing.

“Last Friday he worked as good as he has ever worked,” Mark said.

“He went out the favourite at his early starts but has been a totally different horse since coming back this time. He’s had good manners, but surprisingly there have been no inquiries to buy him.”

“It was a good effort to win his maiden at Addington and he took the step up again on Sunday.”

Sarkozy, a three-year-old McArdle gelding, strode to the front after the opening 600m and was too good, winning by two lengths over Far Too Rusty.

He paced the 2600m from a stand in 3:22.7, quickening over his last 800m in a swift 56.7s and his closing 400m in 27.8s.

Sarkozy races in the light blue and red colours of former Harness Racing New Zealand president Max Bowden, who races Sarkozy with wife Frances, and Max’s son Lyndon.

Mrs Bowden bred Sarkozy from Oh So Precious, a Son Of Afella half-sister to Browngate Mister (1:54.4m, US), who she purchased six years ago.

Oh So Precious belongs to the same family as former smart fillies Steady Lady (1:55.4, US), Steady Niatross, Magnificent Yield and Speedy Girl.

“As an old mare, her dam Browngate Missy, a small Tudor Hanover mare, left three $100,000-plus inners and one who won $90,000,” Max said.

Sarkozy, broken-in by West Melton horseman Brian Zampese, was transferred to Mark shortly before qualifying.

MARK QUALIFIES TWO FOR FILLIES FINAL

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones scored top-end and tail wins on the Forbury Park programme on April 21 with Glenferrie Magic and OK Courage.

Glenferrie Magic will join stablemate Holme Fire in the $170,000 Magness Benrow NZ Sires Stakes Final at Auckland on May 6 after scoring comfortably in a $14,000 non-tote Sires heat at Forbury on Thursday night.

The P-Forty-Seven filly overcame the outside six barrier.

“She sat parked over the last 1100m and won easy,” Mark said.

“I was expecting Shezanelsu to be a bit of a danger but she galloped in the trail turning for home.”

Glenferrie Magic strode clear to win by a length and a quarter in 2:05.8 for the mobile 1700m, a 1:59.1 mile rate.

Alchemist, who led, and Here We Go Again, incovenienced by the breaking Shezanelsu turning for home, ran on late to fill the minors.

The Peter Chambers-owned Glenferrie Magic had previously run seconds at her previous two starts in the Group three “American Ideal” Stakes at Rangiora on March 6 (to Dancing Diamonds), and the Listed Caduceus Club Of Southland/Nevele R Stud 2YO Fillies Pace at Invercargill on March 26 (to Here We Go Again).

OK Courage appreciated a return to mobile start racing at the end of the Forbury card in the 3-5 wins Mainline Electrical Mobile Pace.

Mark sent the Greg Brodie-owned pacer to the top beginning the final lap and he held comfortably by three-quarters of a length from Hi Gun, and the late-finishing Kai Bree She.

OK Courage paced the mobile 2200m in a solid 2:44.3 (2:00.1 mile rate), quickening over his last 800m in 59s and final 400m in 29.2s.

The 5YO Courage Under Fire gelding has been astutely placed by Mark to win 11 of 29 starts for $92,552 stakes, but has had six penalty-free wins in his career. He is only a five-win handicapping assessment.

SMART FILLIES ON MOVE

By Stu Bailey

Smart 2yo fillies Glenferrie Magic and Holme Fire head to different ends of the country this week.

Glenferrie Magic will start at Forbury Park on Thursday night against five others in the non-tote $14,000 Magness Benrow Sires Stakes Heat, while ever-improving Courage Under Fire filly Holme Fire left her Burnham base on Monday for Gareth Dixon’s Clevedon barn to settle in for next month’s $170,000 Magness Benrow Sires Stakes Final on May 6 at Alexandra Park.

Both had a good hit-out at last Saturday’s Rangiora workouts, with Glenferrie Magic clocked home in 57.9 to finish fourth on a very wet track behind star trotter Makarewa Sun, who led the final lap and set a slick pace, cutting out the 2000m mobile in 2:31.1.

‘Magic’ came from second-to-last at the 450m and ran on attractively though it was hard work for all horses on the bog track over the final 150m.

Holme Fire sat back and dashed through with inside runs for Scott Stewart to take her 2000m mobile heat in 2:31.4, home in 58.5, though she bettered 58sec herself.

“She isn’t Sales Series eligible which is a bit of a shame,” said Mark.

“But it’s good to get her up there early to Gareth’s and get her ready for the Sires Stakes Final.”

Mark will send OK Courage, Western Flare, Alex and Heather Castleton to Forbury with Glenferrie Magic.

Two-year-old trotters Master Lavros (2g Sundon – Lavra Noblesse), and Chardonnay Jude (2f Monarchy – Winfield Invasion) were impressive trialists in an unqualified trot on Saturday, both mistake-free first time off the place and Mark has high hopes for both.

Beat The Feet, a Julius Caesar 2yo filly and half-sister to prominent recent winner Datmymulligan, dashed along the passing lane to score a good win in an unqualified pace for Mark and lessee Richard Lee earlier in the day.

JACKAROOZY FOR NSW

Queensland owner Greg Brodie has sold the diminuitive but game Jackaroozy to New South Wales interests.

Trainer Mark Jones says the Courage Under Fire gelding is following former stablemate Atom Of Courage, after being sold to New South Wales horsewoman Ashlee Seijka.

Atom Of Courage has won five of 10 starts since heading to Sydney, including a swift 1:54.2 mile win at Menangle on March 12.

“He sat parked last week at Menangle and won again (1:59.7 rate, 2300m), so he’s going good for them,” Mark said.

“The stablehands here are killing me for letting Jackaroozy go.”

“He’s the best horse in the stable Jacka was, but we had to let him go. He can go and race for good money over there,” Mark said.

Mark is pleased Atom Of Courage has raced on so well in New South Wales.

“Atom Of Courage would have paid for himself, and they’ll replace him with Jackaroozy.”

“He’s probably a better all round racehorse, but he didn’t have the brilliance of Atom Of Courage, who always had the ability but it was just a case of getting it out of him over shorter distances,” Mark said.

“I Hope Jackaroozy can do the same job for them.”

Jackaroozy, spelled after last racing in December, raced 29 times in New Zealand for four wins and 13 placings, earning $32,587.

FILLIES FOR INVERCARGILL

Burnham trainer Mark Jones is heading to Invercargill on Saturday March 26 with promising fillies, 3YO Rockabella, and 2YO Glenferrie Magic.

Rockabella, recently secured for Queensland owner Greg Brodie, was the star trialist at Rangiora on Wednesday, March 16.

The qualified but unraced Art Major filly came from last of the eight starters to win on Wednesday to win a useful 2:30 (2:00.6 mile rate), being timed by her trainer-driver to go well inside 56 seconds for her last 800m.

“I wasn’t going to pull her out but Ken Barron’s one galloped ahead of me. I got her to run her last 800m in 55.2 or 3, and she showed good speed doing it,” he said.

Rockabella, who won her Rangiora qualifier in January by four lengths when formerly with Neil Hamilton, has replaced qualified maiden Gee That’s Courage, who has been sold out of the Jones team to race in Australia.

“She had been trialled by a few people but they had been qualming about the price. We trialled her and met their price, so bought her,” Mark said.

Mark intends targeting the Southland Oaks with Rockabella

“She’ll race next week at Invercargill and again following week, then come home for a Nevele R Heat, but I’m not too worried about the Nevele R,” he said.

Two-year-old Glenferrie Magic, a first-up second to Dancing Diamonds in the American Ideal Stakes at Rangiora, ran on late wide out for fourth to Shezanelsu in the 2YO fillies pace at Wednesday’s trials.

Shezanelsu, another promising filly in the Mark Purdon/Grant Payne team, trailed up and found the line strongly to win by 2 1/4 lengths from Gaylee’s Delight and Star Of Isis, pacing the mobile 2000m in 2:35.4 (2:05 mile rate), the leaders running their last 800m in 57.8s.

“I’ll probably lean towards the Southland race ($25,000 Caduceus Club of Southland/Nevele R Stud 2YO fillies Classic) instead of that Sires race here,” Mark said.

“She was ok but a shade disappointing today so I’ll change a few things with her,” he said.

Holme Fire, after settling back for driver Scott Stewart, finished well late wide to beat the Purdon/Payne-trained My Style in an earlier 2YO fillies pace in 2:33.8 (2:03.7 mile rate), the leaders running their last 800m in 58.4s.

The Courage Under Fire filly is owned by Greg Brodie.

Atombob (Scott Stewart), four back on the inner to the turn, unwound solidly wide out for third to Ged’s Courage and Ultimate Sheldon in a 2YO colts and geldings mobile pace.

Ged’s Courage, who settled three back on the markers, scored handily by a length for trainer Paul Kerr in a time of 2:35.3 for the 2000m, a 2:04.9 mile rate with the leaders running their last 800m in 58s.

By Jeff Scott