Get the latest news & information from Mark Jones Harness Racing Stables
Race 3: BEST DEFENCE (5, Laura McKay), mob. 2200m: “Disappointed last time at Motukarara but is in the right race to show improvement.”
Race 7: KOWHAI WHIZ (12, Laura McKay), 2, 40m, 2700m std: “Ran Phil’s Gift close there last time and always a good each-way show at Forbury.”
Kowhai Whiz, a good each-way chance again at Forbury on Wednesday night.
Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones qualified two 2YO pacing colts at the Ashburton trials on Tuesday, December 20, including Squire(Aus), who he purchased for $47,000 at the Sydney Australia Pacing Gold Yearling Sale on February 27.
Squire(Aus) makes his run between winner Ashley Locaz and Awayovernight (partly obscured wide) in the run home at the Ashburton trials.
Squire(Aus) settled fourth for Mark and pierced through between runners over the final 150m in the second 2YO colts and geldings trial, finishing just over half a length from the the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen-trained Ashley Locaz (2c Bettor’s Delight-Ashley Cullen).
Ashley Locaz settled one place ahead of Squire(Aus) and did just enough to win, edging out Awayovernight, who ran wide in straight, by a nose in 2:01.6 for the 1609m.
The leaders quickened over their last 800m in 57.6s and final 400m in 27.3s.
Awayovernight (2c Changeover-Dancethenightaway), who trailed, fought held second, with Squire(Aus) half a length back, clocking 2:01.7.
Squire’s dam Trinny Bromac is a sister to the former 10-race NZ winner Ross The Boss (1:50, US), who added another 24 wins in the US for over $400,000; and also a sister to minor NZ winner Habeebee (1:53.6, USA), now the winner of over $60,000.
Roll On Styx shows good gate speed to lead early in the first 2YO colts and geldings heat at the Ashburton trials.
Her grand-dam Tanisa Vance is the dam of five individual winners including Bromac Lodge mare Tanisa Bromac (TT, 1:58.1), a Live Or Die dam of four individual winners, namely Tijuana Bromac (1:58.7 13 wins & $101,873), (Black) Mr Mach (1:56.5, nine wins
& $A83,749), Twitter Bromac (one win) and Torrid Bromac (1:56.7, six wins & $44,860).
Earlier, Roll Along Styx, a Rocknroll Hanover colt from seven-win mare Walk This Way (by Fake Left-Traffic, by New York Motoring-Out Of Time), showed good gate speed for Mark to lead in the first 2YO colts and geldings trial.
Roll Along Styx was outfinished in the run home by two lengths by the Cran Dalgety-trained Master Moonlite (2g Art Major-Miss Moonlite) but clocked a solid 2:02.3 for the 1609m.
The leaders picked up the pace over their last 800m in 57.2s and the final 400m in a swift 26.8s.
Bettor Under Fire holds Jakira in a CO mobile 2400m pace at the Ashburton trials.
Overport Lodge maiden pacer Bettor Under Fire (3c Bettor’s Delight-Queen Of Fire, AUS) led throughout to win a CO mobile pace.
Bettor Under Fire, who qualified in September, comfortably held the Cran Dalgety-trained trailer Jakira by three-quarters of a length in 3:05.8.
The winner picked up the pace over his last 800m in 57s and his final 400m in 26.8s.
He’s the first foal from a Courage Under Fire mare, who took a mark of 1:57.1 and won 16 races and $A176,808.
Queen Of Fire is a half-sister to Majestic Emperor (by Astreos), who won 18 in Australia and $A186,373, and three other sub 2:00 winners.
By Jeff Scott
Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has decided against travelling Master Lavros to Auckland for the Group One National Trot on December 31, instead electing to take him to Central Otago for a free-for-all trot on January 2.
“His leg scanned good this morning (Saturday) but he will not go to Auckland and head to Omakau instead,” Mark said.
Master Lavros, with trainer-driver Mark Jones wearing the Santa Hat, delivers in his comeback race at Addington on Friday night over Daryl Boko. (Race Images photo).
After weighing up the options, the Master Lavros team have gone with a more feasible target, even though he’ll be racing for $9000 at Omakau, instead of $80,000 on offer at Auckland.
Ultimately, his connections want to do the right thing for the horse’s longevity.
A long float trip to Auckland and racing at Group One level right-handed second-up after a year layoff may have been just a step too far.
Master Lavros had a harder run than intended resuming from a year’s layoff against four rivals in the $10,710 Happy Retirement Pam Nixon From Addington Mobile trot at Addington on Friday, December 16.
The big horse skipped into a gallop as the start was effected, settling some 40m metres from the early leaders Hey Yo, then Waterloo Sunset.
He reeled in the pelaton by the 1600m on a strong 1:14 lead time, with Mark edging him closer in the open from the 750m.
Daryl Boko, who made a mid-race move to try and lead over the last lap,still led turning for home, but Master Lavros, despite being not entirely happy in his gait, showed his immense will to win.
He lifted at the business end to win by half a length from Daryl Boko, with those who sent him round as the $1.60 favourite, full of admiration for his determination.
Master Lavros trotted the full 2600m in 3:14 (2:00 mile rate), with the leaders last 800m in 59s and final 400m in 28.4s.
Now eight, the big Sundon-Lavra Noblesse gelding, after having to work to catch the field at the mile, was timed over his last 1609m in 1:58.4.
Master Lavros is poised to crack the $600,000 in career earnings if successful at Omakau.
Friday’s win pushed his earnings to $596,992 from 20 wins in 48 starts for owner, Kypros Kotzikas.
By Jeff Scott
Race 2: MANINTHEMIRROR (15, Samantha Ottley), 2600m std: “Trying him from a stand start but is racing good and an each- way chance.”
Race 3: BETTOR UNDER FIRE (SCR) & SENORITA MARGARITA (17, Blair Orange), 2600m std: “Señorita Margarita is unknown on grass but if she gets luck can place.”
Race 4: ZENA MAC (6, Laura McKay), mob. 1950m: “Looking for luck.”
Ice Crusher, shown holding You Gotta Have Faith at the Rangiora trials late last month. He contests Race 10 on the grass there on Sunday.
Race 7: GLENFERRIE CLASSIC (3, Samantha Ottley), 2600m std: “Racing great and a strong winning hope.”
Race 8: PERISSA (8, Samantha Ottley), 2, 10m, 2600m std: “Is racing good but is in a tough field.”
Race 10: ICE CRUSHER (3, Mark) & ROCKNROLL NEVIN (9, Samantha
Ottley), 1950m std: “If Ice Crusher steps and settles he’s a winning chance.”
“Rocknroll Nevin may need the run.”
Race 11: AYMAR (7, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1950m: “Is drawn to go forward and a strong each-way chance.”
Real Torque, a good each-way chance in the opener at Auckland on Friday night.
Race 1: REAL TORQUE (6, Samantha Ottley), mob. 2200m: “Trialled up very good at Auckland last Saturday so should be in with a good each-way show.”
Race 3: DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS (1, Blair Orange), mob. 2200m: “Has come through last week’s race really well. We’ll make use of the draw with Spanish Armada the danger again.”
Race 4: THE BUS (8, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1700m: “Going to be hard to beat Spankem, who’s drawn the one. The Bus went to the front in his trial at Auckland on Saturday morning and went very good. It was overcast so no shadows. Would have preferred this race to be a bit later to avoid the shadows issue but hopefully he’ll be ok.”
Race 8: ROCKER BAND (2, Samantha Ottley), mob. 2200m: “If we can run second to Dream About Me it will be like a win for us.”
Master Lavros, returns to racing after a 12-month layoff in a mobile 2600m free-for-all on Friday night.
Race 5: RUTHLESS SUCCESS (1, Laura McKay), 2600m std: “She’s very consistent and wasn’t far off winning for Laura last week. A good each-way show again.”
Race 6: KOWHAI WHIZ (SCR) & MASTER LAVROS (7, Mark), mob. 2600m:
“Master Lavros needs to go good to think about going to Auckland. I was happy with him last week at Rangiora but not ecstatic. With another week under his belt hopefully he’ll be near enough and the small field helps.”
Outside drives
Race 4: VINNY GAMBINI (2), mob. 1950m: “He’s a half-brother to Four Needed and For The Ladies of Steve Dolan’s and has trialled up ok so an each-way chance.”
Race 7: RUNAWAY STAR (8), mob. 1609m: “She’s been racing well and a chance again.”
Race 9: IDLE MONKEY (2), mob. 1950m: “He’s racing good and should be a competitive again from the draw in a good field.”
Race 10: CURLIMORE (9), mob. 1950m: “This one for Nigel McGrath’s been in good form too. The outside front row draw makes it tough but he’ll be a chance with the right luck.”
Top squaregaiter Master Lavros is scheduled to make his race return at Addington on Friday, December 16, after coming through his Rangiora workout last Wednesday.
Master Lavros, scheduled to resume in a $13,000 free-for-all trot over 2600m at Addington on Friday.
“He went nice but didn’t trot great up the straight,” said Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones.
However, precautionary scans taken of the horse’s injured leg and have come back good.
The plan is to race the giant-sized squaregaiter in the $13,000 mobile 2600m free-for-all on Friday.
Mark crossed from the five gate with Master Lavros to trail stablemate Senorita Margarita in the early stages of the C0 and faster mobile 2000m heat, then moved out to take up the running with 1250m to run.
They held late finisher Letsgotothehop by a neck in a solid 2:33.2, trotting his last 800m in 58.2s and his final 400m in 27.9s without having the removeable hood released.
Safely through Friday’s trot, Master Lavros could possibly fast-track his return to Group One racing by heading to Auckland for the $80,000 National Trot at Auckland on New Year’s Eve.
But it will be a case of assessing his progress over the next week and how he handles his proposed return on Friday.
Meanwhile, 2YO stablemate The Bus, withdrawn from his scheduled race debut at Auckland on Friday night with safety concerns after trying to jump a light shadow, pleased with a bold hit-out there on Saturday morning.
The Bus, missed his scheduled debut on Friday night, but trialled well at Alexandra Park on Saturday morning.
“It was a pain to miss the race but he trialled very well on Saturday morning at the Alexandra Park trials, as did Real Torque,” Mark said.
The Bus, with shadow roll on, showed good gate speed for Mark from the outside eight barrier in the 2YO mobile 1700m pace, leading into the first turn.
He held the Robert Dunn-trained Alta Maestro (2c Art Major-Alta Camilla), who also shaped promisingly, closing strongly from three back for driver Tony Herlihy, running The Bus to a neck, in a 1:59.8 rate.
The Bus a, 2YO Art Major-Rondel Franco colt quickened over his last 800m in a smart 55.8s, quickening over his final 400m in a slick 26.8s.
Real Torque, driven by Mark from the inside of the second row, came from last and unwound strongly late wide for a half-length second to Sires Stakes 3YO Finalist Accumulator in a rating up to 63 mobile 2200m workout.
The Barry Purdon-trained Accumulator (Zac Butcher), who led early, then trailed Laredo Torpedo, held in 2:46.4 (2:01.6 mile rate), the leaders last 800m in 57.4s and closing 400m in 28.2s.
By Jeff Scott
Overport Lodge driver Robbie Close has gone within a whisker of notching back-to-back Australasian Young Drivers Championship victories.
Robbie, winner of both the 2015 New Zealand Junior series and Australasian YDC, was tied with New South Welshman Todd McCarthy going into the final heat of the 2015 Perth AYDC series, but his drive, former Kiwi Mighty Flying Thomas, raced below his best, dropping away to finish second-to-last.
Robbie Close, salutes after winning a Young Drivers heat last year at Addington with The Royal Garden.
McCarthy, driving another ex-Kiwi in Bronze Seeker, was able to finish two places closer and claim the series on 73 points, two ahead of Robbie Close, who finished outright second on countback from fellow NZ representative, Matt Anderson, who had a good finish getting ex-Kiwi longshot Rycroft into third in the final heat.
Robbie, who won last year’s NZ series by a clear-cut 25 points, began the 2016 West Australian series in brilliant fashion, partnering the former Ken Barron-trained pacer Livura (5g Live Or Die-Zitura) to a runaway win in the opening heat.
He gave Livura every chance in the running line before swooping on the leader turning for home, clearing out to win by 31.3 metres in a 1:56.6 rate (2130m).
Robbie also won the third AYDC heat at Bunbury on Saturday, December 3, with ex-NZ pacer Major Stare (4g Art Major-Nivea Franco), who pressed to the front from the six gate and held by 8.7 metres in a 1:57 rate (2100m), beating Matt Anderson’s drive, another ex-Kiwi in Sir Tosti Mach.
The “Goose” man also finished second in a Narrogin heat last Thursday with Mon Alisa Jet behind fellow NZ driver, Brad Williamson, who won the heat driving All About The Cash.
Todd McCarthy, the leading driver in New South Wales last term, became the first driver from New South Wales to win an Australasian Young Drivers Championship since 2004.
Robbie returns to the NZ scene at the Akaroa meeting on Sunday, picking up four drives including the steer on last-start Mark Jones-trained winner Perissa in the Burnside Contractors Ltd Akaroa Cup, with Sam Ottley sticking with her regular drive behind strong grass tracker, Johnny Eyre.
By Jeff Scott
Delightful Memphis, and driver Blair Orange, made the most of drawing inside arch-rival Spanish Armada to post their second Alabar Sires Stakes 3YO Fillies Heat win of the season.
She was a comfortable winner of the $19,800 Auckland Alabar Sires Heat in the build-up to the big $150,000 final at Auckland on December 31.
The Mark Jones-trained filly, who won the first heat at Addington on October 12 and had to settle for second to Spanish Armada in their Addington heat clash on November 25, turned the tables in the Auckland heat on Friday, December 9.
Delightful Memphis (Blair Orange) hold Spanish Armada in a 1:55.5 rate (1700m) in the Alabar Sires Stakes 3YO Fillies Heat at Auckland on December 9, 2016. (Trish Dunell photo).
Blair crossed from the seven gate to find a one-one sit, while Spanish Armada eased to last, then getting checked and losing four lengths when Pakipaki broke back in the field at the 1400m.
Delightful Memphis and Blair peeled three wide when Spanish Armada loomed at the 600m and joined strides with front-running Utmost Delight at the 400m.
The smart daughter of Bettor’s Delight and Memphis Melody (Badlands Hanover-OK Deb, by Ok Bye-Deborah Dundee) lengthened out in the run home to hold the luckless Spanish Armada by 1 1/4 lengths.
Utmost Delight, a daughter of Bettor’s Delight and top mare Victor Surpeme in the Steven Reid/Simon McMullan barn, tasted her first defeat in three starts but was a creditable third stepping up to top filly company.
Delightful Memphis lowered her fastest winning mile rate to 1:55.5 over the 1700m dash, the leaders pacing their last 800m in 56.2s and closing 400m in 27.7s.
This was her fourth win, while she’s also been six times second, from 11 starts, taking her earnings to $133,042.
Meanwile Rocker Band settled for third behind champion mare Dream About Me, and Arden’s Choice, in the Group Three $23,000 Caduceus Club Northern Breeders Stakes.
Sam Ottley and Rocker Band crossed early from the seven gate to lead after the opening 200m, then trailed Ideal Belle, who in turn handed to favourite Dream About Me beginning the final lap.
Dream About Me won as she liked for co-trainer Natalie Rasmussen in 2:40.2 (1:57.2 mile rate) for the 2200m.
Arden’s Choice finished stoutly from a handy spot on the outer for second, 3 1/2 lengths from the winner, with Rocker Band unwinding late along the inner after clearing a pocket 150m out.
Sam was unable to activate the removeable deafeners on Rocker Band, who was still winding up at the finish.
The Bus, the first of Mark’s scheduled runners on the Auckland programme, had to be a late withdrawal for safety reasons.
The Art Major juvenile tried to jump a light tower shadow near the 400m, despite the addition of a shadow roll, in his preliminary.
By Jeff Scott
Race 6: RUTHLESS SUCCESS (2, Laura McKay), mob. 1950m: “Has a good draw, is racing good, and a place chance again.”
Race 7: ICE CRUSHER (7, Laura McKay), mob. 1950m: “Hasn’t raced for a year but trialled nice and a strong chance.”
Perissa, a last-start Oamaru grass track winner, looking for further success in the Burnside Contractors Ltd Akaroa Cup on Sunday.
Race 4: MANINTHEMIRROR (15, Samantha Ottley), mob. 2000m: “Drawn bad but is having no luck and a winning show.”
Race 7: BEST DEFENCE (5, Samantha Ottley) & ZENA MAC (9, Wayne Higgs), 2170m std: “Ideal race for both and both have a strong chance on the grass.”
Race 9: PERISSA (10, 2, 10m, Robbie Close), 2810m std: “Her last two runs have been super. If she gets the right run can threaten again.”
Race 4: GLENFERRIE CLASSIC (9, Laura McKay), 2600m std: “Bonus win when she got a bit of luck last week but won well. If she backs up and gets into race at the right time she’s a winning chance again.”
Race 5: AYMAR (6, Samantha Ottley) & ZENA MAC (9, Wayne Higgs), mob. 1950m: “Both are only in because the club asked for horses to race.”
“Aymar was a bit disappointing at Oamaru but back to the all-weather she’s a chance.”
“Zena Mac will desperately need the run.”
The Bus, the 2YO half-brother by Art Major to Saveapatrol, who makes his race debut at Auckland on Friday night.
Race 1: THE BUS (1, Mark), mob. 1700m: “Still learning but is drawn to follow the markers and a good chance.”
Race 5: DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS (7, Blair Orange), mob. 2200m: “Drawn wide again as we knew she would but it will be good experience for her that way round. She seems well and with luck is a strong chance.”
Race 7: ROCKER BAND (7, Samantha Ottley), mob. 2200m: “Barry (Purdon) has her going super and if we can run second to Dream About Me we’d be stoked.”
Outside drive
Race 3: AMERICAN PRINCESS (9), mob. 2200m: “A pick-up drive from Ken and Tony Barron. She’s been solid in her trials but looking for luck from the draw, first-up, that way round.”
Race 6: KOWHAI WHIZ (9, Laura McKay), 1, 40m, 2700m std: “Shame we have to travel to Forbury to get a suitable race but he is always competitive there.”
