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SAM HITS 200 CAREER WINS BEHIND IMPRESSIVE DEBUTANTE

Overport Lodge driver Sam Ottley achieved her 200th career-win milestone with another gem of a drive, this time behind exciting newcomer Whittaker at Addington on Friday, July 15, 2016.

She brought up her 199th win the previous night when when fellow Overport Lodge pacer, Itz Risky Business, notched his second win there within a week.

Sam, six week after her career highlight win behind Rocker Band in the Group One $150,000 Harness Jewels 4YO Diamond at Cambridge, began a new chapter wearing owner Greg Brodie’s famous colours behind Whittaker.

Winning combination, Sam Ottley and Overport Lodge trainer, Mark Jones.

The promising rising 3YO captured buyer interest with a stunning trial and workout win as Tadpole’s Legacy when developed by Peter and Leonne Jones, was recommended to Mr Brodie as a colt capable of making his mark at three.

The deal was done and he joined the Overport Lodge stables of Mark Jones, joining Rocker Band and others in Mr Brodie’s ownership. However, the major owner couldn’t live with the colt’s name, and a request to HRNZ for a change was granted.

Being by new stallion Sportswriter, Mr Brodie couldn’t think of a more appropriate name for the colt than Whittaker, the surname of his late friend, former long-serving Sydney Morning Herald turf writer Bill Whittaker.

The equine Whittaker, described “as a lovely colt” by trainer Mark Jones, lived up to his rating, being given every chance from Sam, and looks every bit a Sires Stakes hopeful for the spring.

Sam eased Whittaker out from three back on the markers to grab a one-one sit tracking All Stars favourite Stars Align 500m from home.

Whittaker confirmed his potential, striding clear to win easily by a length and a quarter, rating a useful 1:58.5 for the 1950m, the leaders having the pace on over their last 800m in 56.2s and final 400m in 27.7s.

The winning debutante adds to the winning wave being created by stock of 2009 US & Canadian 2YO Pacing Colt of the Year Sportswriter (by Artsplace from a Jate Lobell mare), who paced 1:49.4 at two, and a 1:48.6 at three, and won $1.5 million.

Sportswriter is available at Wai Eyre Farm in North Canterbury.

The sire also featured on Friday in Perth, being represented by Group One-winning WA 2YO Golden Slipper Stakes winner, former Kiwi, Mitch Maguire (2c Sportswriter-Miley Maguire).

The former Brent Mangos-trained Mitch Maguire controlled the speed from the ace fro the Greg and Skye Bond stable, winning in a 1:55.9 rate for the 2130m in the Gloucester Park classic.

He’s unbeaten in both starts since arriving in Perth, having won first-up thre over 1823m at Narrogin in a 1:55.4 rate.

Sportswriter has also left the smart Australian youngsters, Shezallapples (p2, 1:53.3, G1 2016 NSW Breeders 2YO Fillies Challenge); Raith Memorial winner Read About Lexy (1:53.5, 11 wins & $153,718); G1 Vic. Super Series 2YO Fillies Final & Victoria Oaks winner, Niki No No (1:55.6, 13 wins & $253,837); Edogan (1:52.6, 9 wins & $80,168) and Sporty Spook (1:56.7, 18 wins & $157,384, runnerup in G1 2014 NSW Breeders Challenge, 3rd in both a Bathurst Gold Crown Final & NSW Derby).

Sportswriter, whose oldest are 4YOs, was the top first crop sire in the USA, Canada and Australia in 2014-15.

He’s the sire in American of over 54 in 1:55 and the winners of over $4.8 million including Reverend Hanover (p2, 1:51,2 & p3, 1:48.6, winner of over $500,000), Voracity (p2, 1:51.4 & nearly $300,000), Sports Chic (p2, 1:54.4 & $282,889), Twin B Thong (p2, 1:52.2 & $243,944), Sporting The Look (p2, 1:53 & p3, 1:51.4) and Code One Hanover (p2, 1:54.2 & p3, 1:52.6).

Whittaker also has good genes on his dam sire.

His third dam was the good northern 1980s mare Precious Dina (by Mercedes), who won eight of 57 starts including the 1986 North Island Breeders Stakes.

Precious Dina left Pacific South, dam of upset 2000 Group One-winning Auckland Cup mare Flight South, beating Yulestar and Holmes DG, over 3200m.

Flight South also numbered victories in the 2001 Premier Mares Championship at Addington (1:56.3 mile rate, 1950m, beating Kym’s Girl) and Group Two Franklin Cup (3200m) among her 12 wins for $292,566 in stakes for Cambridge trainers, Andrew and Lyn Neal.

Whittaker comes through Honey Trap, a half-sister by Ok Bye to Pacific South.

Honey Trap won once from just eight starts and left Whittaker’s dam Anarchy (by Holmes Hanover), who was also lightly-raced winning twice and being placed five times from 10 starts.

Further back in Whittaker’s maternal line, Precious Dina’s grand-dam Portmadoc left Princess Nandina, dam of highly successful 1980s American filly/mare Pacific (p3, 1:53, winner of $871,550) and Twice As Good (1:56.5).

Twice As Good, in NZ, is the five-win dam in NZ of nine individual winners including Waitfornoone (1:55.7, 11 wins), St Barts (1:57, 14 wins), Fight Fire With Fire (1:56, seven wins), Mark Dennis (1:54.2, Aust), Double Shot (1:57.9, five wins) and Twice As Hot (five wins), the latter becoming the In The Pocket dam of the last year’s Menangle Inter Dominion runnerup Flaming Flutter (1:53.9, 19 wins & $A623,907).

By Jeff Scott

NEW ADDITION WHITTAKER STARTS ON FRIDAY

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has a new horse for Gold Coast owner Greg Brodie kicking off his career at Addington on Friday night.

Whittaker, an impressive winning 2YO trial qualifier in 1:58.3 (1609m) over Rapid Flight at Ashburton on May 17 for Templeton trainer Leonne Jones, changed hands after winning again in a Rangiora workout on June 22.

Driven by Sam Ottley in the workout in 2:33.5 (2000m), Whittaker again stood the leaders up a big start at the 400m but unwound in style to win going away over the leaders last 800m in 56.3s.

Samantha Ottley, has the drive in the Greg Brodie owners colours behind first-starter Whittaker at Addington on Friday night.

Before changing hands, the horse stepped out as Tadpole’s Legacy but Mark said there were a couple of factors given for the name change.

“It went in front of the Board and we were grateful for their help in changing the name,” Mark said.

“Greg re-named him Whittaker as he was friends with Bill Whittaker (former long-time harness writer then turf editor for the Sydney Morning Herald) and the horse is by Sportswriter,” he said.

Bill Whittaker, who covered the highlights of harness racing at Harold Park during the halycon days of Sydney’s premier harness venue during the 1960s and into the late 1980s, died after being struck down by cancer in 2009 at the age of 79.

Greg Brodie, who formerly lived in Sydney and passionately followed harness racing during the Bill Whittaker era, became a successful real estate investor in the business world.

He relocated to the Gold Coast in the mid-1980s and around the same time began purchasing up and running NZ harness horses through one of Mark’s former employers, Bruce Negus.

His list of success stories include big winners, Ginger Man (1:54.6, 15 wins & $554,951), Jillbo (1:53.8, US, winner of 27 lifetime for $351,215), Franco Hat Trick (11 NZ & Aust. wins for $389,635), One Way Traffic (1:56.4, six wins & $112,590), Sly Flyin (1:53.6, 29 wins & $911,689) and former champion youngster, Courage Under Fire (1:54.2, 41 wins & $1.5 million).

When Bruce Negus relocated to Waikouaiti (since returning to Burnham last year), Mark became Mr Brodie’s Canterbury trainer, with the pair combining to win the last month’s $150,000 Harness Jewels 4YO Diamond on June 4 with Rocker Band.

Mr Brodie has had a stream of good winners prepared by Mark including Best Chance (four wins from only eight NZ starts), OK Courage (12 NZ wins from 40 starts for $104,389), Holme Fire (five wins & $69,484), Alexis (six wins from 19 NZ starts, big Victorian winner), Alex (four NZ wins, 1:54.8, Aust), Rockabella (1:56.2, Aust), Christian Seel (1:56.1), Courage Tells (sold after winning two of three 2YO starts), Atom Of Courage (1:52.1, Aust), McPocket (1:53.5, Aust) and Buzz Courage (1:55.5, Aust).

But Rocker Band, now the winner of $164,685 from nine wins in 24 starts, has been the stand-out so far.

New buy Whittaker, as mentioned earlier, is by Sportswriter (1:48.6 & $1.5 million), a former 2YO of the Year in American and Canada and now a successful sire in Australia, with his oldest being 4YOs.

He has a bit going for him a few generations back on his maternal side too.

He’s the second foal from Anarchy, a Holmes Hanover mare who won two and was five times placed in 10 northern starts.

Grand-dam Honey Trap (by OK Bye) won once from only eight starts, while third dam Precious Dina (by Mercedes) was a good northern mare in the 1980s, winning eight of 57 starts including the Group Two 1986 North Island Breeders Stakes.

Precious Dina’s first foal was Pacific South, the dam of upset 2000 Auckland Cup-winning mare Flight South (1:56.3, 12 wins from 47 starts), while she also left another smart pacer for Cambridge trainers, Andrew and Lyn Neal, in Where Eagles Dare (11 NZ wins, 1:51.8, US).

Further back Precious Dina’s grand-dam Portmadoc left Princess Nandina, dam of star 1980s American filly/mare Pacific (p3, 1:53, winner of $871,550) and Twice As Good (1:56.5).

The latter (Twice As Good) is the five-win dam in NZ of nine individual winners including Waitfornoone (1:55.7, 11 wins), St Barts (1:57, 14 wins), Fight Fire With Fire (1:56, seven wins), Mark Dennis (1:54.2, Aust), and Double Shot (1:57.9, five wins).

She is also the grand-dam through five-win mare Twice As Hot of last year’s Menangle Inter Dominion runnerup and this season’s South Australia Cup winner, Flaming Flutter (1:53.9, 19 wins & $A623,907).

Whittaker has an inside second row marble first-up over 1950m in the Diamond Creek Mobile Pace, following out Lucky Three, who likes to race forward.

However, All Stars entrant Stars Align (2c Art Major-Nosotros), who narrowly missed winning first-up from the second row last week in a 1:58.4 mile rate for the 1950m,  will be the one to beat from the four gate.

By Jeff Scott

FIRST WIN FOR BREEDER-OWNERS; SAM NEARS 200

Justine McMeeking, daughter of successful Kirwee owners Bob and Norma McMeeking, and Justine’s partner Kurt McNamara, were on track to see a horse they bred and own record their first win at Forbury on Thursday, July 7, 2016.

A five-year process was fulfilled when Itz Risky Business, a younger brother to $100k-plus winner Itz Bettor To Win (1:54.3), won at his fourth start from the Overport Lodge stable of Mark Jones.

Itz Risky Business, credited owners, Justine McMeeking and Kurt McNamara, with their first win at Forbury on Thursday, July 7.

Their interest in breeding Itz Risky Business came over drinks after moving in with the senior McMeekings at Kirwee five years ago, after their Redcliffs home was damaged in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

They have subsequently also bred a Bettor’s Delight younger sister, and Art Major half-sister, to Itz Bettor To Win and Itz Risky Business.

Overport Lodge reinswoman Sam Ottley moved to 198 career wins after stepping the 3YO well from a wide front row alley to take conrol after the opening 600m.

After setting a comfortable clip, Sam stoked Itz Risky Business up beginning the last 600m and went for home from the 400m.

They held by a length from trailer Silver Dale in the Washington VC Pace, clocking 2:52 for the 2200m (stand).

Itz Risky Business, who qualified in 2:00.5 (1609m) at two, is the third foal and second to race from a race-winning Courage Under Fire mare in Itz All About Me, a half-sister to four in 2:00 including Itz Cherry Ripe (1:51.4, US) and former Overport Lodge filly  Itz Nosurprisesthere (1:58), who numbered the 2013 NSW, Tasmanian and Queensland Oaks, among her six wins.

Itz All About Me was retired after winning at her ninth start for trainer Malcolm Shinn at Methven in 2009. She also placed twice.

Itz Risky Business furthers a strong-winning family developed over the last 30 years by Bob and Morma McMeeking.

Itz Billy Hillis, shown in September for the Mark Jones stable. He was sold unraced to Victorian interests and has won six of eight starts.

The “Itz” family are the result from the McMeekings’ breeding from two-win mare Adenwin, a half-sister by Out To Win to a useful south performer of the 1970s in New Averil (six NZ wins).

Adenwin’s second foal Itz Magic (by Nat Lobell) won four and time-trialled in 1:55.6, while her half-sister Itz Regal (by Clever Innocence), is the unraced third dam of Itz Bettor To Win and Itz Risky Business.

Itz Magic is the grand-dam of Itz Dreamin Jonesy (1:55.1, Aust, 13 wins & $A73,229) and Itz Billy Hillis (p3, 1:55.3 mile rate, 2240m), a former promising qualifier out of the Mark Jones stable.

Itz Billy Hillis has won six of eight Victorian starts this season for $A30,178.

Justine and Kurt have increased their harness racing interests with more “Itz” horses on the way.

They have subsequently leased from Itz Got The Giggles, the dam of Itz Billy Hillis and Itz Dreamin Jonesy. They bred an Art Major colt from Itz Got The Giggles last year.

By Jeff Scott

AYMAR REWARDED AT AUCKLAND; RETURNING TO CANTY

Aymar, rewarded with a $11,700 maiden win at Auckland on Friday, July 1 for the Mark Jones stable, will return to Canterbury for her future racing.

“It was great to get a win with her there. It was a very successful trip as she won nearly $17k up there and if she raced in Canterbury would have been lucky to win $8k!,” Mark said.

“She will come home and have a run or two before the end of the season and then go for a well deserved spell.”

The 3YO Real Desire-Chloe Bromac filly is raced by Geoff Deakins, who is also having a successful run in Victoria as a co-owner of former useful Canterbury pacer, Pepe Bromac.

Tony Herlihy

Aymar, a catch drive for Tony Herlihy from two on the second row in the Woodlands Stud Mobile Pace in her Auckland win, slotted into a perfect one out and one back trail.

However, after Jessica Bromac (parked) made the lead at the 1500m, Herlihy pressed to the front at the 1400m and controlled the race from that point.

Well-rated, she kicked clear to win by two lengths in 2:47.4 for the mobile 2200m, quickening over her last 800m in 57.8s and final 400m in 28s.

Aymar, a half-sister to Better Watch Me (1:59.3, Aust), is a distant relative to one of Tony Herlihy’s former star performers in Bella’s Boy, who he trained and drove to win the 2002 Australasian Breeders Crown 2YO colts & geldings Final, and the 2003 Victoria Derby, when co-owned by himself and the late John Seaton.

Bella’s Boy (In The Pocket-Bella Chip, by Peoples Blue Chip-Orbell), who later raced in North America and returned to NZ for a late racing and stud career, paced 1:52 in the United States.

He won 16 of 59 starts for $473,171.

Aymar is the third foal from Chloe Bromac (Falcon Seelster-Classical Bell, by Holmes Hanover-Abbeybell, by New York Motoring-Orbell).

Her third dam Abbeybell is a half-sister former top pacer Awesome Armbro (1:49.8, US) and to Bella Chip (1:52.6, US), the dam of Bella’s Boy.

Another from Abbeyfell in Altruistic is the dam of former good Southland mare Sheeza Shark, now a 1:51.1 USA winner.

Bella Chip also left Winter Rose, a race-winning sister to Bella’s Boy, who herself left 2009 Victoria Cup winner, Bettor’s Strike (1:55.7, 16 wins & $890,201); and smart fillies, Bella Arden (1:57.3, five wins), Southwind Arden (1:58.4, nine wins & $150,127), Rocknroll Arden (1:57.7, six wins & $172,154) and Arden’s Choice (1:56.6 four wins to date & $199,742).

Bella Chip, who won five and $131,120 in the early 1990s, was the first foal from Orbell (Patron Score-Light Chase).

Her second foal was the former top mare Lento (15 wins & $272,110), who won back-to-back NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes in 1995-96 and also won two Premier Mares Championship at Addington in 1994 and 1996.

Lento left another smart filly in Whanau (1:57.1, 10 wins from 32 starts).

Light Chase, the lightly-raced Good Chase dam of Bella Chip and Lento, was half-sister to former top 1980s pacer Trident (14 wins incl. the 1985 NZ Welcome Stakes & 1986 NZ Messenger for $235,045).

Light Chase was also a half-sister to Lochaime, dam of former smart pacers in the ill-fated 1995 Welcome Stakes 2YO winner Corumba (1:58.1), six wins from 24 starts), Warloch (nine wins).

Venus Serena, a former top filly for the Geoff Dunn stable.

Lochaime also left an unraced Soky’s Atom mare in Awesome Dream, dam of former speedy fillies in Inspiring Dash (1:59, five wins) and Gail Devers (10 wins from 19 starts).

Inspiring Dash (by Falcon Seelster) has notably become the dam of champion filly Venus Serena (1:52.1, 16 wins from 34 starts for $796,497), Cracka Cullen (1:54.6, Aust) and Rona Lorraine (three wins).

The latter, Rona Lorraine, a Group One 2YO winer of the 2008 Nevele R Stud Caduceus Club Classic, and is now the dam of other useful fillies in Bettor Think Twice (1:57.3, four wins) and Bettor Think Quick (1:56.6, five wins from 16 starts).

While Aymar is still in the early stages of her career, she has the pedigree to extend further.

She returns to Canterbury a winner at her 11th start, while she’s also had three seconds and three thirds.

By Jeff Scott

DETAILS OF ADDINGTON $70,000 ALABAR SUPER SERIES

July 4, 2016

A projected total of $70,000 in stakes is available at the NZMTC race meeting held at Addington on Friday, August 5 for the 12th Alabar Super Series for lower grade pacers & trotters.

The three races on the August 5 provide the following opportunities for: C0 pacers prior to racing on May 15, 2016 – Stake $23,500; C1 to C2 pacers prior to racing on May 15, 2016 – Stake $23,500; C0 to C2 trotters prior to racing on May 15, 2016 – Stake $23,500.

ALL STARTERS in these races are to RECEIVE A MINIMUM STAKE of $500.

Conditions; To qualify to start in these races, owners horse(s) must have started at least twice at a NZMTC Race Meeting between May 21, 2016 and July 31, 2016.

Opportunities to race at NZMTC to ensure your horse(s) qualify for the Super Series; Friday, July 8; Friday, July 15; Friday, July 22; Friday, July 29; Sunday, July 31.

General Information:

There is no enrolment fee payable. Field selection will be based on a points system.

Full details and conditions of the up and coming Alabar Super Series can be found under the Racing – Promotions and Incentives section at addington.co.nz or contact Brian Rabbitt, Richard Bromley or Colin Steele at the Addington Racing Department on (03) 338 9094.

The next round of the Alabar Super Series is to be confirmed, but tentatively it will be held on Friday, October 7, 2016.

Courtesy of Keryn McElroy,
Business & Marketing Manager,
Addington