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KOWHAI MONARCH TROTS 1:57.1 AT MENANGLE

Kowhai Monarch lowered his career mile trot best to 1:57.1 with his second Menangle win for the Mark Jones stable on Saturday, June 3.

The 4YO Monarchy-Surprising gelding pressed forward from the five gate in the Campbelltown Warriors Trotters Mobile, led, trailed at the 400m and finished bet for driver Ashlee Grives.

Kowhai Monarch drew clear by 2.3 metres from fellow NZ-bred Dieu De Lamour (Love You-The Sun Goddess), followed homeby Sunset Tour, Rompers Monarchy and Nickelson.

He racked up his seventh career win from 43 starts, taking his earnings past $A51,000 for owners John and Jill Hartnell.

MAJOR LUCKY HEADS TO SYDNEY

Major Lucky has been withdrawn from the $150,000 Commodore Airport Hotel 2YO Harness Jewels Emerald at Ashburton on June 3 after failing to stay in touch with his former All Stars stablemates at Addington this month.

“He has gone to Robbie Morris in Sydney as he purchased him (for owner Greg Brodie). I was just looking after him,” said Overport Lodge trainer, Mark Jones.

A well-developed Art Major half-brother to last  season’s top NZ 2YO More The Better, Major Lucky was race-placed in 1:54.9 in NZ and shouldn’t be hard to place in New South Wales.

He won a maiden for the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen All Stars Stable at Invercargill on April 2.

He ran a 5.1 lengths third to The Devils Own and All U Need Is Faith in the third Garrards Sires Stakes Heat at Addington on April 21.

Major Lucky paced 2:17.7 for the 1950m, but had to settle for eighth in the $195,000 PGG Wrightson NZ Yearling Sales 2YO Open Pace, won by The Devils Own in a record 2:16.3 (1:52.4 mile rate) at Addington on May 12.

He wound up his NZ racing with a sixth to top 2YO Spankem in last Friday’s $156,400 Garrards NZ Sires Stakes 2YO Final.

MAJOR LUCKY LOOKING FOR LUCK IN 2YO FEATURES

New Overport Lodge acquisiton Major Lucky is only likely to remain briefly in Canterbury for a crack at this month’s 2YO features.

While it is virtually impossible to improve the horse from top All Stars trainers, Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, his connections are hoping he holds his form.

With a touch of luck he could pick up some useful money in those races for his new Gold Coast owner Greg Brodie.

“He (Major Lucky) seems fine. We know he is below the top ones so he’s just here for the PGG Yearling Sales race and the NZ Sires Stakes race, and if he makes the Jewels he’ll stay for it, but he will need to earn more money,” Mark said.

Unfortunately for Major Lucky’s cause, any money won from Friday night’s $200,000 Listed PGG Wrightson NZ Yearling Sales 2YO Open Pace won’t help his Jewels cause as winnings from such races don’t contribute to Jewels qualifying.

However, any earnings from next week’s $170,000 Garrards NZ Sires Stakes Final at Addington will be added to his qualifying Jewels total.

Major Lucky, a half-brother by Art Major to last season’s top All Stars juvenile More The Better (1:53.3, eight wins & 10 placings from 19 starts for $435,207), is currently 12th on the leaderboard for the $150,000 Harness Jewels 2YO Emerald at Ashburton on June 4.

He’s earned $9900 from a win, a third, and two fourths, in six starts.

Major Lucky, was race-timed in 1:54.9 (1609m) when fourth first-up behind The Brooklyn Brawler in the NZ Kindergarten Stakes at Wyndham on Mar 4.

He subsequently won a maiden third-up at Invercargill on April 2, beating consistent maiden Lilac Flash in 2:45.6 (2200m).

Major Lucky did enough to enter the Sires Stakes frame when a five lengths third to former stablemates, The Devils Own and All U Need Is Faith, in a Garrards Sires Stakes Heat at Addington on April 21, the winner clocking a fast 2:19.9 (1:55.4 mile rate) for the 1950m.

ICE CRUSHER SOLD, WINS FIRST-UP IN QUEENSLAND

Former Overport Lodge pacer Ice Crusher, sold out of the Mark Jones stable last month, was a first-up winner in Queensland at Redcliffe on Thursday, May 4.

Ice Crusher, a winner first-up in Australia at Redcliffe, Queensland, on Thursday, May 4.

The 4YO Christian Cullen-Helena Kilena gelding was caught three wide early from the second row then led over the last lap as a short $1.80 favourite for new trainer Darrell Graham.

Ice Crusher won by 8.2 metres in a 1:59.2 rate for the 2040m, pacing his last 800m in 59.2s and closing 400m in 29.4s.

He earlier won two and was three times placed in 15 starts for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, but didn’t fulfill his initial promise here.

At his second start, he won the Listed PGG Wrightson NZ Yearling Sales 2YO Consolation at Addington in a 2:01.6 rate (1950m), holding Hickstead over his last 800m in 55.5s.