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SAVEAPATROL RETIRED AFTER LATEST SETBACK

It was a bitter-sweet occasion for owner Grant Hatton the night he scored his first Group One win as a co-owner of NZ Trotting Championship winner, Eyre I Come.

The horse he thought may have been his first Group One winner in Saveapatrol was retired after going amiss again a couple of days out from the Addington premier meeting on April 7.

Brilliant pacer Saveapatrol in action at the Rangiora trials for driver Blair Orange in the spring of 2015.

Saveapatrol, good enough to beat triple New Zealand Cup winner Terror To Love, and another New Zealand Cup winner in Arden Rooney, in the Group Three 2014 Invercargill Cup, was plagued by soundness issues for much of his brief race career.

After his Invercargill Cup win, Saveapatrol chased home Terror To Love and top mare Adore Me in the 2014 Group One Auckland Cup, but that was sadly his third to last ever race start.

The big Christian Cullen-Rondel Franco then had a year off to try and fully extend his racing life.

He returned for two Auckland starts in June-July 2015, winning his last start in the Thames Cup, but a stone bruise then had him returning to Canterbury to freshen and prepare for the 2015 New Zealand Cup.

But only days out from a scheduled start in the Hannon Memorial, Saveapatrol was impressive winning at the Rangiora workouts only to go amiss with a high tendon tear.

He returned as a late seven-year-old for a workout and trial in this preparation but had a recurrence of the high tendon tear in early April.

“It was very frustrating,” Mark said.

“He could have been a very good open class star but the way he he was made was always against him.”

Saveapatrol retires after racing only 18 times, scoring 11 wins, a second and a third, for $145,618 in stakes.

Meanwhile, Mr Hatton has more from Saveapatrol’s family for the future.

Mark secured a close relative of Saveapatrol for Mr Hatton at the Australia Pacing Gold Melbourne sale on Sunday, February 5.

The Mach Three filly from Rigaleto Franco is eligible to return to Australia for the Australasian Breeders Crown, Vicbred and Vicbred Platinum series.

Her dam Rigaleto Franco is a successful producing half-sister by Live Or Die to Rondel Franco (1:51.6, US), the Falcon Seelster dam of Saveapatrol (1:56.9, 11 wins from 18 starts for $145,618), Rondels Rose (winner of one each in NZ & Australia), The Bus (1:59.8, 2YO qualifier, race-placed in four 2YO starts) and Runaround Rhonda, the latter now the race-placed Artsplace dam of (Now) I Get Around (1:59.8, three wins).

KOWHAI MONARCH WINS AT MENANGLE FOR STABLE

The New South Wales arm of the Mark Jones stable scored a win first-up with useful trotter Kowhai Monarch at Menangle on Saturday, April 8.

Kowhai Monarch, shown winning at Blenheim last winter in the hands of Samantha Ottley.

Driven by Ashlee Grives (nee Siejka), who is assisting Mark with a satellite Overport Lodge extension in to NSW, the big Monarchy gelding led early, was eased 3 back and finished best as a $2.70 favourite in the T2 or better $11,000 Allied Express _ National Distribution Trotters Discretionary Handicap.

Kowhai Monarch trotted the 2300m (stand) in 2:54.5 (2:02.1 mile rate), with the leaders running their last 800m in 57.1s.

Raced by John and Jill Hartnell, Kowhai Monarch had won five and been eight times placed in 38 NZ starts, for $39,209 in stakes.

However, he was becoming harder to place on a tough mark in Canterbury since last winning with a junior driver concession at Addington on September 15, in the hands of Laura McKay.

DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS BRILLIANT IN WINTON CUP

The sensational NZ 3YO fillies record run over 2400m (stand start) of 2:55.5 by Delightful Memphis in the Winton Business Cup on Sunday, April 9, is unlikely to be challenged for some time.

Despite improving track conditions throughout NZ, the time was a good reflection and a deserved momento for a high class unlucky to be born in the same year as dominant All Stars filly, Spanish Armada.

Delightful Memphis, and Blair Orange, are clear of Bettor Ops at the end of the Winton Businesses Cup on Sunday, April 9, won in NZ record time for a 3YO pacing filly. (Bruce Stewart photo).

She smashed the former mark of 2:59.9 set by Talkerup at Ashburton on Boxing Day, 2015.

Nothing could detract from the performance of the Overport Lodge-trained filly Delightful Memphis, who accepted for the race with a note of caution as a final step to qualifying for the Southland Oaks Final on April 30.

She hadn’t even had a public workout from a stand start but began like a professional off the 20m line for regular driver Blair Orange, underlining that very good horses handle whatever is put in front of them.

She was soon in the running line trailing up three, then four back on the outer, beginning the final lap.

The daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Memphis Melody improved sharply wide at the 600m to be matching strides with front-running Torrid Bromac turning for home and ran clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

She rated 1:57.7 for the 2400m, the leaders running their last 800m in 55.4s and closing 400m in 27.2s.

Delightful Memphis joins stablemate Ariadne Lavra as Mark Jones-trained representatives chasing success in the upcoming $45,000 Southland Oaks Final at Invercargill.

Other leading south Oaks contenders include Seaswift Joy, Bonnie Joan, Somejoy, Better B Chevron, Trendy Bromac, Sheezus and Sheeza GNP.

With Saturday’s win, Delightful Memphis took her record to six wins and 11 placings from 18 starts for $214,089.

The win was the 39th training success of the season for trainer Mark Jones, and brought up the 137th driving win for the term for Blair Orange.

EYRE I COME FURTHERS RISE WITH GROUP ONE WIN

Eyre I Come furthered his rise among the top trotters in New Zealand and provided co-owner Grant Hatton with a notable first in the $80,000 Fred Shaw Memorial NZ Trotting Championship at Addington on Friday, March 7.

“It was great for Grant (Hatton) and Merv and Meg Butterworth (co-owners),  especially Grant, as it was his first Group One and with a horse he always believed in,” said trainer Mark Jones.

Eyre I Come, stepped up for a Group One win in the $80,000 Fred Shaw Memorial NZ Trotting Championship at Addington on Friday, April 7, 2017.

It was a challenging night of mixed emotions for the Overport Lodge trainer.

He reined stablemate Master Lavros to a game third.

He felt he was on the winner at the 700m but 100 metres later the giant trotter faltered for a few strides then picked himself up again and tried to give nothing away.

Master Lavros finished the race to the bitter end but Mark was soon aware the 2014 Trotting Championship winner had run his last race .

Meanwhile, Eyre I Come’s regular driver Blair Orange produced another gem behind the capable but also injury-plagued stablemate.

After showing gate speed from a favourable alley, Blair took a trail behind early leader Daryl Boko, then was travelling sweetly three back when Master Lavros rolled to the top with 1700m left.

Blair found a winning run one off in the run home to wear down Wilma’s Mate in the shadows of the post and in a NZ record run of 3:12.6 for the mobile 2600m.

Grant Hatton.

The time was 0.2 of a second inside the previous best set by Springbank Sam at Omakau in 2016, with Master Lavros being the second previous holder of the record at 3:13.1.

Mark Jones wasn’t surprised by the record.

“I don’t read anything into times now with the crazy times everything runs,” he said.

Mark always felt Eyre I Come was potentially headed for the top, but there have been a few speed bumps along the way.

“I thought on his Cup day win a few years ago he was a Group One winner but soundness has been his issue,” Mark said.

“He’s still day-to-day but will head back to Auckland for the Rowe Cup,” Mark said.

Eyre I Come, developed by North Canterbury trainer Dave Gaffaney and after four starts, was recommended by Mark to Melbourne’s Merv and Meg Butterworth, and other long time stable client Grant Hatton, as a potential good long-term trot prospect.

He looked destined for the top when winning the intermediate trot at the 2014 NZ Cup meeting but then went winless for just over a year.

Meg and Merv Butterworth.

He’s come back super this term after a good layoff.

The Trotting Championship win lifted his seasonal earnings to $82,442 from six wins in 11 starts.

His first big scalp came over Everybody Knows and Master Lavros in the Group Three $23,000 Teltrac Communications Ltd Summer Trotting Free-For-All at Addington on February 17.

His career record now stands at 38 starts for 10 wins and seven placings for $143,224.

A 6YO Majestic Son gelding, Eyre I Come is the first live foal from Landoras Special, a daughter of former Dominion Handicap trot winners in Sundon and Landora’s Pride.

Springbank Eden, the second foal from Landoras Special, has also won 10 races but from 50 starts for $69,427.

Mark purchased Ohoka Ruler, a brother to Eyre I Come, for $25,000 at this year’s NZ Premier Yearling Sales.

Meanwhile, Mr Hatton’s top pacer Saveapatrol suffered a slight setback on his comeback trail at the Addington trials on March 28 when he lost a shoe.

He subsequently had a few easy days and wasn’t forward enough to take his place in the feature pacing free-for-all at Addington.

By Jeff Scott

MASTER LAVROS GALLANT IN RACETRACK FINALE

It was the finale no one wanted for champion squaregaiter and two-time Dominion Handicap winner Master Lavros.

But an inflamed suspensory in his “good leg” afer trying to hold Eyre I Come in the NZ Trotting Championship at Addington on Friday night (April 7, 2017) ended the race career of the trotting giant.

Master Lavros, in his greatest moment, comng back from a serious setback to win a second Group One Dominion Handicap for trainer Mark Jones in 2015.

“He’s an amazing horse. He tried right to the end and showed what a champion is is,” said trainer Mark Jones.

Master Lavros, given time to settle in midfield early in the Trotting Championship, was on the move to take up his favoured front-running role with 1700m left.

However Mark felt him falter at the 600m but once Wilma’s Mate rushed by the big boy knuckled down again without flinching to try and chase down Wilma’s Mate.

However, it was Overport Lodge stablemate Eyre I Come who had the last say, grabbing the Group One with an inch perfect drive by Blair Orange.

“There is no coming back,” Mark confirmed.

“He deserves a good life and will not put him though any more.”

“We’re undecided where he will go but he will probably rotate between my place, Kypros (Kotzikas, owner) and Regan Todd’s place.”

“He will not be worked again.”

Master Lavros, in action for Mark during his last trial win on a slushy track at Addington on March 28.

“He will be extremely well cared for. He looked after us so good on the track he deserves to be looked after off the track.” he said.

Master Lavros, an 8YO Sundon gelding from a Sierra Kosmos mare in Lavra Noblesse, raced only 53 times for 20 wins, 10 seconds and five thirds, amassing $608,007 in stakes.

Despite on-going soundness issues created by his enormous size, he won races in every season from two through to eight years of age.

He was a former NZ record holder for the mobile 2600m at 3:13.1 set when taking out the 2014 Group One Fred Shaw Memorial NZ Trotting Championship at Addington.

Besides his two Group One Dominion triumphs, he also won NZ’s other Group One 3200m trot, the 2014 Rowe Cup at Auckland, and was NZ Trotter Of The Year in 2014.

His other notable wins came in two Group Three Canterbury Park Trotting Cups (2013 & 2015), and in the 2014 Group Three Summer Trotting Free-For-All at Addington.

By Jeff Scott