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Mark Jones could have been on a plane to Sydney about now, but his feet will be firmly on land at home in Canterbury instead – for the short term.

He’d intended to run class mare Delightful Memphis in a low-grade race in the country this weekend, and Life Lavros, an impressive newcomer to the barn in Sydney.

To top that off he would return to Menangle to drive Whittaker on Saturday night – but things have fallen over.

“The races didn’t get off the ground for Betty (Delightful Memphis), or Life Lavros, and then Whittaker found himself on the ballot at Menangle given he was the lowest-rated horse.

“But there’s no panic, they were all going around instead of trialling. There is plenty ahead for them.

“Ashlee (Grives) is really happy with them and doing a great job. The horses are all thriving in Sydney and I am very pleased.”

Ashlee Grives was thrilled with the team at the Menangle trials yesterday (Tuesday, 5th Dec), both Delightful Memphis and newcomer Life Lavros in superb winning form, and Rocker Band equally as good in running third and never hurried.

Grives drove the trio quietly and was happy to sit out the back and let her charges run home strongly. Life Lavros opened up the day with a withering burst from last to take his mile heat in 1:57.6.

He is a new member of the team, owner Kypros Kotzikas having sent the Bettor’s Delight three-year-old across to the Sydney barn for better opportunities.

Delightful Memphis has lost none of her brilliance, looking superb in her public return. Grives angled her out and she simply exploded to go straight past them in 1:54.7, privately timed in 26.1 the final 400m.

Rocker Band is right on song to resume this Saturday night. She was clocked in 26.2 hard held and Ashlee was also thrilled with her effort in a fast overall 1:52.7,, a nice opener before her return to the racetrack this weekend, also  at Menangle.

She takes on a nice field in the $30,600 Garrard’s Teeny Teeny Stakes for the mares from gate 11.

Life Lavros https://www.harnessmediacentre.com.au/trotstv/replays/33098

Delightful Memphis https://www.harnessmediacentre.com.au/trotstv/replays/33104

Rocker Band https://www.harnessmediacentre.com.au/trotstv/replays/33106

ROCKER BAND

Training partner Ashlee Grives in thrilled with Mark’s Sydney-based team, the small but select bunch all working forward very nicely to some upcoming assignments.

Grives, who handles her own team out of Menangle, is in charge of Mark’s Sydney horses, and has driven Whittaker to three wins in a row since he arrived in Australia, culminating in the $15,000 Star Trek Final at Bathurst.

“Whittaker is great, he is absolutely jumping out of his skin,” she enthused.

“He will race at Menangle next Saturday night in a C3-C5 class race.”

Grives has been working up top mares Rocker Band and Delightful Memphis for new campaigns and reports all is very well there, too.

“They are feeling great. Both are very fresh and happy,” she said.

“Mark is flying in tonight (Monday 20th) to work them tomorrow. I would suggest they would be ready to trial in a fortnight depending on what Mark’s thoughts are, of course.

“We are very-much looking forward to their return.”

Grives will drive Kowhai Monarch in the final event at Menangle on Saturday night, the capable trotter due some winning form and back after a months break from the track.

He has been once second, three times third, and also added a fourth to his formline in five starts since returning from an unsuccessful Albion Park campaign in the winter.

“He has done well since his break and his work has been strong. He tends to race better fresh so hopefully he is not too far off a win,” said Grives.

Ash Grives and Whittaker have been potent in NSW

Mark produced good mare Real Torque to win on New Zealand Cup Day, his one and only starter at Addington on Tuesday.

The Real Desire mare continued a good run for owners, the Hatton family.  Grant Hatton, who has enjoyed Cup day success in the past, extends a good run,  having enjoyed  Group race successes in recent years with the likes of Eyre I Come and Saveapatrol.

A great Cup day win for the consistent mare and Sam Ottley

SAM OTTLEY SCORES EARLY DOUBLE

 Successful Overport Lodge driver Sam Ottley was the driver to follow early on Christchurch Casino NZ Trotting Cup day, scoring wins with Sundons Flyer and Real Torque.

Ottley found the perfect trail in both races, delivering Sundons Flyer at 13-to-one for Burnham trainer Bruce Negus, who went into the race confident the consistent Sundon mare was a good winning chance.

Negus, who bred the chestnut mare and races her with Barrie Barber and John Gledhill, felt campaigning Sundons Flyer extensively on the south circuit last year made the mare as she grew in confidence.

Sundons Flyer again stepped swiftly from the inside draw, leading then securing the trail behind Jen Jaccka with 1400m to run, then finishing best along the sprint lane to score in 3:19.6 (2600m stand) in the rating 75-130 Airpark Canterbury Handicap Trot.

This was her eighth win, while she’s also picked up 15 placings in 49 starts, taking her earnings to $67,668.

Ottley, NZ’s top junior driver three years ago, racked up her 15^th win of the season, when guiding Real Torque, for her employer Mark Jones, to justify her favouritism in the up to rating 63 RNP Homes Ltd Mobile Pace over 2600m.

Real Torque went one better than 12 months ago when the runnerup to American Tart in the same race.

Ottley used her gate speed to hold the early lead, then was happy to trail noted front-runner Debnita Rose over the last 1900m.

They were too good with a sprint lane finish, holding by three-quarters of a length from Highland Reign, who fought strongly after improving with a three wide trail over the final lap.

Real Torque, a half-sister to fast USA winner Statesman (1:50.4) and good West Australian winner Calais (1:55.3), was recording her sixth win in 36 starts for owners, Katherine Hatton, along with daughters, Emma, Gina and Kate.

Katherine’s husband Grant owns former Auckland Cup placegetter Saveapatrol, who is the early stages of a potential comeback for the Mark Jones stable after being prematurely retired last year. Jeff Scott

Smart Sportswriter 4yo Whittaker saluted for third time on end at Bathurst, NSW, tonight (Friday), when far too good for his opposition in the $A15,000 Star Trek Final.

He settled back of midfield from his second line draw but was soon up and around them for caretaker-trainer-driver Ashlee Grives, sitting three-wide the last lap in the open, but he still surged away for a very impressive victory

Whittaker rated a slick 1:54.8 for the 1730m, quarters in 27.9, 31.4, 27.8, and 28.1.

http://www.harnessmediacentre.com.au/trotstv/replays/32765

Watch Whittaker keep his Australian record a perfect one.