Addington – Friday
Race 1: Deny Everything
Race 5: Artatac
Race 8: Plutonium Lady, Stylish Memphis
Motukarara – Sunday
Race 1: Taimate Sass
Race 3: Hiranya
Race 7: Majestic Lavros
Race 11: Kowhai Shadow
Nothing ventured, nothing gained…. right?
Mark Jones has been pondering through the early stages of this week whether he pulled the right rein on Sunday, or not
The Mark Jones Racing principal took two of his leading pacers, Stylish Memphis and Plutonium Lady to Oamaru for the Hannon Memorial thinking he’d at least get a good run under the belt as the prepare for upcoming features over the coming months. But as he trekked back to Canterbury on Sunday night, Jones was left to wonder whether a good strong workout at home might have been beneficial for the pair instead.
“I may as well of left them at home and just worked them there,” he said.
“It was just a walk around and a run home and it’s making these lead up races a bit of a joke, Stylish Memphis went quicker in her two trials before Sunday.”
While not finger-pointing at any one thing in particular, the former World Champion driver does believe the sedate nature of driving in New Zealand is the main culprit behind the pedestrian-like state of many races in this country.
Sunday’s Hannon, which was won by Henry Hubert, was the slowest edition of the race at 3:20.3, since Bailey’s Dream won the race in the wet back in 2007 – and the Maurice Holmes Vase at the start of the month was even slower.
“It shows the state of our free-for-all horses, but also the attitude of Kiwis compared to say the Australians when it comes to the way we drive.”
– Mark Jones
“I think probably the biggest concern to come out of the race though is that it seems like you have to have stablemates in these races, it’s been a talking point for years but it’s only going to get worse with the big stables getting even bigger.”
Both Stylish Memphis and Plutonium Lady found themselves back on the fence during the running and were unable to pick up in the final stages of the race from their positions at the 600-metre mark when the speed really went on. Both have come through their run well but will this week head back to the races again and take on a $20,000 Filles and Mares race.
“They just need the steady diet of racing, especially if they’re not going to be able to get those really hard runs under their belt like we’d like.”
Also, a cause for frustration on Sunday was the performance, albeit a winning one, of Majestic Lavros.
After finding the front and then the trail in the feature trotting event of the day he appeared to struggle to hold off the late challenge of BD Yasothon, winning by the barest of margins.
“He should have won better than that, I was pretty disappointed in his effort to be fair.
“I know you don’t pass anymore by winning by more, but I thought he was average, and I don’t know what to put it down too either – but we’ll take the win and move on.”
The Dominion Handicap nominated trotter will head to this weekend’s DG Jones Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup where he’s drawn barrier two.
She’s back, but don’t expect anything too stylish just yet…
The lure of gaining some solid race fitness has forced the hand of Mark Jones with classy mare Stylish Memphis.
After two trials over the past fortnight, Jones has done about all he can with the former Group One winning mare and now it’s a case of getting out on the track and letting her fitness levels rise through racing – and potentially there could be plenty of it in the coming weeks.
The journey begins on Sunday at Oamaru in the Hannon Memorial and while happy to have one of his star performers back at the track, Jones isn’t harbouring a whole heap of confidence heading into the event.
“She’s probably just not quite as forward as I’d like her to be,” he said.
“Her trials have been OK, but they haven’t been brilliant. But that’s why she’s going there this weekend, she needs a few runs under her belt to get fit.”
A winner of 10 of her 26 career starts, with close to $500,000 in the kitty, Stylish Memphis is one of six mares nominated for the New Zealand Trotting Cup in November and with the need for a solid diet of racing to get her up to match fitness, there might not be many assignments she’ll miss.
“Safely through this week, we’ll look to the Canterbury Classic and we may even head from there to Methven too, she’ll need a few runs.”
Ricky May will reassociate himself with the daughter of Bettor’s Delight while Jones steps aside to allow stable driver, Sam Ottley back into the cart behind Plutonium Lady who missed away in the New Brighton Cup last week.
“She’s a bit more forward than Stylish Memphis, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her run a bit of race this week, she’s a rough place chance I think.”
Also on the float down to Oamaru on Sunday morning is Dominion Handicap bound trotter, Majestic Lavros – nine days after his excellent second fresh up behind Sundees Son in the Ordeal Trotting Cup.
And Jones reports that it’s been a good week for the up-and-coming trotting star.
“He seems really good this week and should take plenty of improvement out of that run last week.”
A $1.35 favourite when markets opened on Saturday afternoon, Majestic Lavros drops well back in grade this week – starting off 20m in a handicap event.
While often tricky those races when building race fitness is the ultimate goal, Jones expects him still to tough to roll.
“The small field helps a lot. He’s got naturally good manners as a rule, so he should be driven like he’s the best horse in the race and be given his chance.”
A shot at the DG Jones Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup next week is on the horizon and even if he wins this weekend Majestic Lavros will still get off the front in the grass track trotting feature if the elect to head there.
Last start winner Sioux Princess joins Majestic Lavros in the same race while the stables chances for the day are rounded out with maiden trotter Taimate Sass and debutant pacer, Selsy Bill, both of whom Jones gave strong each way chances too.
The meeting should net Jones a milestone in his training career with 649 career training wins on the board.
Smart resumption highlights a strong weekend on the track
It might not have been a winning resumption, but there were still plenty of victories to tick off in the return of Majestic Lavros on Friday night.
But what happens next as the preparation towards Cup Week features continues is still very much up in the air for trainer Mark Jones.
Last year’s South Bay Trotters’ Cup winner at Kaikoura, produced a standout fresh performance on Friday night to run second to brilliant trotter Sundees Son in the Group Three Ordeal Trotting Cup, surprising even Jones with how good he went considering how much in need of the run the horse was.
“I was rapt with that, a really good performance – getting second was a big bonus because we were only there for a run instead of going to the trials,” he said.
“But we were just as happy with the little things, he trotted so good and steered great, so we look like we are right back on track with him which is exciting.”
Handled to perfection by regular driver Sam Ottley, Majestic Lavros found himself in front for the first 1000m of the 2600m event before handing to Sundees Son. He then kept within a length of the likely Horse of the Year up the straight as they dashed over the last 800m in 55 seconds.
What happens next will be decided in the next 24 hours. Currently there’s a nomination lodged for Sunday’s Oamaru meeting where Majestic Lavros would start off a 20-metre handicap or there’s an option next week at Addington too.
“I’m not sure yet where we will go. Whether we go there or wait for Addington in a couple of weeks, I’ll decide early in the week.
“It’s pretty hard to find races for horses like him at the moment, the options are quite limited.”
The fresh up effort was enough for bookmakers to react with Majestic Lavros shortening from $41 to $26 for the Group One Dominion Handicap in November.
His run highlighted a good weekend for the stable with winners at both Addington on Friday and then at Ashburton on Sunday.
Sioux Princess grabbed the 10th win of her career with a clever drive from Ottley to dash up the passing lane and grab success then on Sunday, Deny Everything made an excellent return to the track with a dour win.
“We thought he’d go good, but he hadn’t race for a long time so it was a pretty big effort.”
Sarah O’Reilly continued her good association with the stable, guiding the big pacer to success.
Other good results from the weekend included second placings from both Artatac and Kowhai Shadow.
Also on the resumption path on Friday night was Plutonium Lady who lined up in the Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup – but Jones was taking the blame himself for her performance.
“Driver’s error, she missed away.”
She’ll head to the Hannon Memorial this weekend where she could be joined by another high-class pacing mare.
Stylish Memphis, who stepped out last week at the Rangiora trials, is also in the nominations, but no firm decision has been made on whether she’ll go yet.
“There’s either the Hannon Memorial or a mares’ race at Addington next week.”
Smart trotter resumes with a caution
By Matt Markham
Exciting trotter Majestic Lavros begins his campaign towards Cup Week on Friday night at Addington, but his resumption comes with a warning from trainer, Mark Jones.
And that’s to not get too excited about the winning hopes of the gelding in the Group Three Ordeal Trotting Cup because he knows that his star trotter is still a long way off being anywhere near his best.
With just the one trial under the belt, that coming last week at Addington, Majestic Lavros steps right into the fire this week taking on the best trotter in the land in Sundees Son.
And while he’d be surprised to see him win it, Jones is happy enough with the horse to consider him a decent chance of filling a top three spot in the race.
“He’s probably only about 80 per cent ready right now,” Jones said.
“But that’s about where we’d want him for this part of the campaign, to be honest.
“He can run a place this week, for sure. But he’s just going to get better with racing under his belt.”
Last week’s trial was a good pipe-opener for the six-year-old, sitting off the pace for Sam Ottley before cruising to the line to win without too much effort required.
Bu there’s nothing quite like a bit of race fitness and that’s the main goal to be achieved from this week’s assignment.
“There’s no race for him for about a month from this week, so it’ll be good to get that first one under the belt and then build on it from there.”
What was clearly obvious last Wednesday was the manner in which Majestic Lavros trotted.
Known for throwing in the odd hop, skip and jump from time to time, he looked balanced and poised as he stretched out when dashing over his last 400 metres.
“He seems really good at the moment; I’ve got no doubt that he’s definitely trotting a lot better than what he was last time.”
A winner of six of his 25 career starts, Majestic Lavros comes into the season with the added bonus of having had some experience at the top level. Good enough to win the South Bay Trotters Cup last year, he’s one of the leading lights to push the seemingly untouchable Sundees Son this season.
Majestic Lavros will be joined at the races on Friday by five stablemates, including Plutonium Lady who tackles the Group Three New Brighton Cup, taking on New Zealand Trotting Cup contenders; Classie Brigade, Di Caprio, Henry Hubert and A G’s White Socks.
Jones will drive the mare himself with Sam Ottley committed to Di Caprio.
Also in action are maiden pacers; The Cobbler and Chance Achiever who both picked up placings last week and the ever consistent, Artatac who picked up another well-deserved win last week.
Jones to show off more skills
Mark Jones is set to show off even more of his skills as a horseman following his impressive victory with Kowhai Sunset at Rangiora on Sunday.
The colt put himself in Harness Jewels contention when sitting off the speed in a hotly contested two-year-old trot before powering to victory.
The win displayed Jones’ skill as a leading trainer and a former World Champion driver as he produced a more polished version of Kowhai Sunset than seen in his last two starts.
The trainer then pulled out a pinpoint drive behind the colt, bred and raced by John and Jill Hartnell.
Even more of Jones’ horsemanship will be on show on Wednesday when he steps out his first runner as a thoroughbred trainer at Ashburton when Mistletoe starts in race 1.
Jones brought a sense of humour and a touch of modesty when assessing the horse’s chances.
“I didn’t realise but the horse has gone from Jamie Richards to John Bary to Terri Rae to me, so I don’t think I will be able to improve it,” Jones quipped.
“But at least now I can go into the birdcage and get all the good excuses that the jockeys use.”
Jones has had his thoroughbred licence approved so that he can step out Mistletoe, who he also owns.
“I actually quite enjoy the gallopers and it is going to be a good challenge.”
Unlike Mistletoe, Jones obviously does not want to see a strong gallop from Kowhai Sunset any time soon.
The colt made mistakes in two starts after making a solid debut when fourth behind Highgrove at Addington.
On Sunday the trotter showed his true worth, which makes him a horse to follow in the upcoming two-year-old feature trots.
“We will have a go at the Sires Stakes now and then we will look to go up to the Jewels,” Jones said.
“It will be up to the owners if we go up there, we haven’t discussed that yet.”
“Outside of Highgrove you would think he would be pretty competitive with the rest.”
Kowhai Sunset was covered in sweat before and after his victory on Sunday.
That was not a sign the horse had worked himself up or was in need of his run, the trotter is simply a free-sweating type.
Kowhai Sunset is just the second winner in New Zealand for trotting sire Creatine, who is available through Nevele R Stud.
Jones liked what he saw in Kowhai Sunset and planned to buy more of Creatine’s stock at this year’s NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales but unfortunately missed out.
Stylish Memphis targets ‘special race’
“No secret I’d love to have her spot on for that race”
By Stu Bailey
New Year 2020 did not exactly begin the way the harness racing fraternity had hoped.
On that long, drawn out day at Omakau on January 2 the worry of an industry, and a nation of racing supporters, surrounded the health of one of the greats of all time, Ricky May.
Stylish Memphis and Ricky May
May had fallen ill during the running of the Central Otago Cup, the flagship race of the day, and collapsed in the sulky with over a lap to go when driving one his favourite horses A G’s White Socks.
Shock hit the racing industry, the scenes initially broadcast live as the race was soon abandoned, and May, not in good shape, was airlifted to hospital after receiving extensive medical help on the track.
May’s ultimate bounce back to full health has been the number one story in harness racing this year bar none, his mojo well and truly back as he hits his best form again in search of win 3000 of his career – now a handful away from that great milestone.
Winning that Central Otago Cup in 2021 would be the ultimate. And Mark Jones has bypassed a crack at Group 1 glory to concentrate his efforts on achieving that dream. On Monday, Stylish Memphis returned to work and though there are bigger goals in mind, this race, to be run again on January 2, is the one he wants.
“No secret I’d love to have her spot on for that race for Ricky,” said Jones.
“There are other races we are obviously concentrating on but that one is high on the agenda, not monetary wise or anything, just because it would be fitting if Ricky was able to win it. Hopefully, we can provide him with the right horse to do that.”
Jones wasn’t keen on a trip to Auckland for the Queen Of Hearts, even a sly look at the Auckland Cup, in December. Chasing the All Stars up the country was not something that made a lot of sense as he plans out the next few weeks and months for the brilliant daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Memphis Melody.
“Following Amazing Dream up the road to Auckland, and considering we would also have to race Self Assured, Spankem, Copy That and co in the Auckland Cup – it just wasn’t an option, or lets say the right option, right now,” he said.
“There are still some good races coming up for her, the Green Mile at Methven, a Free-For-All at Addington pre-Christmas, and then the Omakau race. Also, the Northern Southland Cup and premier mares race at Addington later in January so it is not like we don’t have a few races to choose from.
“Think she will enjoy tagging along with the rest of the team on the trip to Central Otago this year. She can flop around on the grass track at Cromwell and do her work without fuss and enjoy her Christmas and New Year like the rest of us.”
Stylish Memphis ran her final mile in 1:53.6 on Show Day, November 13, in going down very late to a flying Vintage Cheddar over 1980m after backing up from running third in the Group 1 Nevele R Final behind Amazing Dream three days earlier, also in scorching time.
She was at owner Wayne Higgs’ property the next day and a little tired, but soon bounced back to her best with a belly-full of rich new grass and resumed jogging with Higgs on Monday before she joins Jones again this weekend. He will prepare her for a possible start in the $17,500 Green Mile on December 13 in Ricky May’s hometown of Methven.
Lavros set for the Dominion – now second favourite
A hot week for the stable got even better when Majestic Lavros took out the Group 3 at Kaikoura yesterday – Mark’s third Group 3 success in five days after taking the Soutland Oaks -Southern Supremacy double at Ascot Park.
Master Lavros, a two-time Dominion winner
If a Cup week statement was to be made then Majestic Lavros had to turn up and give his best performance in his final chance to stake a claim for Group One glory.
The highly talented trotter was always a Dominion contender in Mark Jones’ eyes, but he needed to prove that at Kaikoura yesterday if he was to convince others his opinion was right.
Stepping up to plate, the son of Majestic Son was brilliant in running a race and track record in leading throughout to take the Group 3 Majestic Son South Bay Trotters Cup and now sits among the top few to win the Group 1 on Show Day.
Beautifully handled by regular driver Sam Ottley, the Kypros Kotzikas-owned gelding was having just his 18th start in securing win six and his place in the Dominion, a race Jones and Kotzikas have twice teamed up to win with former champion trotter, half-brother Master Lavros.
“I knew before the race that he was good enough to be in the Dominion. I guess he just had to let a few others know that he was good enough,” said a delighted Jones.
“No pressure on us going into the Dominion. We’re not really expected to win it and we’ll go along and give it a good crack. I do think he’s the right sort of horse to be there, on the day we’ll find out if he’s up to it.”
Majestic Lavros trotted the 2400m from a stand in a staggering 3:00.10, shaving a tenth of a second off Stent’s former record set in 2015.
“He’s not a Master Lavros, but every time I ask him to step up a little bit more he does. He’s had his wee issues along the way like most trotters do but right now I think he’s probably trotting as good as he ever has.
“I had to sort a couple of things out after that late gallop at Addington (two starts ago when relegated after winning) and he has not looked back since. It’s great for Kypros to have another horse good enough to run in the big races and I’m sure he won’t disappoint us too much next week.”
Majestic Lavros has had his odds slashed by bookies in the Futures book for the 2020 Dominion Trot, opening at odds of $67.00 now all the way into $9.00 as he sits the second favourite at that quote behind Sundees Son at $2.25 who galloped when making his claim at Kaikoura.
Racing season changes ‘mandatory’ to align with Australia
“They could clean us out”
Harness Racing Australia are making a move to not only change the new racing season to a calendar year, prompted by Covid, but seriously looking at it’s viability as the way forward.
Adam Hamilton put the question to HRA CEO Andrew Kelly on In The Gig and it seems like there could be traction for this to happen sooner rather than later.
Racing (2020-2021 season) moves to a calendar year in Australia because of Covid and many think it won’t just be a flash in the pan due to Covid.
“Will it be a permanent move?” asked Hamilton.
Kelly responded by saying HRA members are currently looking at the proposed changes in full, and made no claim it would be permanent. But persistent rumours suggest a calendar year season will be adopted for the long term across the Tasman, something we must mirror immediately in New Zealand, says Mark Jones.
“They could clean us out (of stock) if we didn’t do the same,” he said.
“Our two-year-olds would be bought up in plane loads given they could go and race in Australia for a full year (from January 1).
“So, we must move with Australia if and when this happens. I’ve been an advocate of this happening for years.
“The entire racing calendar could be properly mapped out so easily between the two countries, the Grand Circuit races all in the summer, and the good horses get the winter off. It makes absolute sense and I hope it happens, and soon.
“I’ve said before we should have been the first to make this move – before the Aussies ever did. This should be mandatory for us to change once Australia does.”