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JELLIGNITE LOWERS CAREER BEST AS 8YO

Former Overport Lodge pacer (My) Jellignite paced a career best 1:52 even at Menangle, New South Wales, last Saturday, April 16.

Now eight, Jellignite won 10 of 38 NZ starts for $62,712 for trainer Mark Jones.

(My) Jellignite, shown in his NZ racing days at Addington for the Mark Jones stable.

Mark suggested to owner, the late Mrs Pat Campbell, Jellignite be transferred to Australia for better race opportunities.

Jellignite, a Courage Under Fire gelding from two-win Slugger mare Wytchwood Spirit, continued to earn solidly for the last four years for Mrs Campbell, who followed his weekly progress via TAB Trackside.

Mrs Campbell, who died in January this year, also sent half-brother Badjelly’s Courage to Australia at ths same time.

Jellignite paced a smart 1:52.4 at Menangle three years ago.

After winning twice there, he was transferred to Queensland, adding another nine wins in the Sunshine State.

He relocated back to NSW when co-owner and trainer Shane Sanderson moved from Queensland to Menangle early this year.

Coming in fresh after a month off, Jellignite was given every chance with a perfect one back one out trail and finished best to grab a half-head win in the $A22,260 New Express FFA Pace.

The leaders had the speed on over their last 800m in 54.3s and final 400m in 27s.

His career record now stands at 112 starts for 22 wins and 43 placings for $A227,089.

Meanwhile My Man Dan (10g Pacific Rocket-Fullabubbles), a former multiple country cups winner in NZ for the Mark Jones stable, notched another claiming pace win at Globe Derby Park, Adelaide, last Friday.

My Man Dan, with former NZ trainer-driver Mark Jones.

My Man Dan, a $1.90 favourite, improved three wide over the last lap and bet out another ex-Cantab in Wilusi Blues in a 2:02.7 rate (2230m).

The hardy veteran, who extended his record in Queensland before transferring to South Australia, has taken his lifetime record to 35 wins and 33 placings for $A215,814.

Another ex-Mark Jones developed pacer in Jimmy The Editor (5g Bettor’s Delight-Easy Falcon) was also in winning form last weekend, scoring at Tabcorp Park, Melton, on Saturday night.

Jimmy The Editor, bred by Fay and Max Bowden, led up in a mobile 1720m pace and held in a career best 1:56.3 rate.

Sold to Australia after only one NZ start when racing as The Editor, finishing second to Franco Toulone at Oamaru in September 2013, Jimmy The Editor has now won $A43,664.

He’s raced 58 times for seven wins and 22 placings.

Meanwhile, Bio Marinus, the older half-brother to recent Overport Lodge 2YO winner Lady Lavra, notched his 13th career win at Albion Park, Brisbane, last Saturday, winning for the Grant Dixon stable in a 1:57 rate (2138m).

OHOKA TEXAS NOTCHES FIRST WIN OF YEAR IN USA

Former good-winning Overport Lodge pacer Ohoka Texas continues extend his career in North America.

Now eight to NZ time and nine to North American time, the Christian Cullen-Millwood Touche entire gained his first win of the year in 10 starts at Yonkers Raceway, New York, on April 15.

Ohoka Texas, a former good winner for the Mark Jones stable, who regained winning form at Yonkers last week.

Racing for the Peter Tritton stable, Ohoka Texas settled third from the ace draw in a $US14,000 pace and won by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:54.4 (fifths).

Ohoka Texas, a grandson of former Auckland Cup placegetter Quiet Touch (1:57.8, 10 wins), won 12 of 37 NZ starts for $174,342.

A former Invercargill Cup and Pelorus Trust 4YO Classic winner for the Mark Jones stable, Ohoka Texas has a smart mile best of 1:50.2 in the US.

He was recording his ninth USA win, taking his American earnings past $US140,000.

Meanwhile, fellow former Overport Lodge pacer Texas Terror ran fourth in a 1:51.2 $US50,000 Levy Memorial Heat on Sunday (NZ time).

After being beaten out from the ace and settling fifth, he wasn’t disgraced finishing in behind dead-heaters, fellow ex-Canterbury pacer Bit Of A Legend, who dead-heated with last year’s US Horse of the Year, Wiggle It Jiggleit.

LATE PAYMENT LIKELY FOR ‘MEMPHIS’ IN CADUCEUS CLASSIC

Connections of Overport Lodge filly Delightful Memphis are likely to make a late payment for a crack at the $110,000 Group One Woodlands Stud Caduceus Club Fillies Classic at Auckland on Friday week, April 22.

Trainer Mark Jones says all his owners are keen.

“We went last night (Friday) to give her a run with the Caduceus in mind and she competed well,” Mark said.

Delightful Memphis, a game second in the Auckland Magness Benrow Sires Stakes Fillies Heat on Friday, April 8.

Delightful Memphis wasn’t rushed early in her first start right-handed, but Mark was on the move with her once fully balanced with a lap to run.

She was left in the open over the final round and fought gamely for second.

Trailing favourite and another Bettor’s Delight filly in Spanish Armada, for the All Stars stable, making the most of a sweet trip to win by 1 1/2 lengths in the $22,000 Magness Benrow Sires Stakes 2YO Fillies Heat in a 1:57.7 rate for the 1700m.

The leaders ran in over their last 800m in 57.5s and final 400m in 27.4s.

“I was rapt with her,” Mark said of Delightful Memphis.

“Its is just what filly gets the best run,” he said.

Delighful Memphis has yet to finish further back than second in four starts.

After winning her debut in the Group 3 ‘Sweet Lou’ Leonard Memorial at the Cheviot meeting at Addington on February 28, she was also too good in a similar $25,000 Group 3 south feature, the Northern Southland Club’s Caduceus Club of Southland/Nevele R Stud Mobile Pace at Invercargill on March 12.

With a sit, she outfinished Renske B (parked) at Invercargill
in a 2:01 rate (2200m), the leaders last 800m in 56.1s.

She’s had to settle for seconds from the parked position in her last two starts, in the Addington heat of the Sires Stakes behind All Stars filly Renske B on March 26, and again at Auckland on Friday.

Meanwhile, Thursday’s Forbury maiden 2YO filly winner Lady Lavra, in a 1:58.4 rate (1700m), won’t be seen again until next season.

She led early from the ace for Sam Ottley, trailed Kezza’s Lass, at the 1100m and outfinished Scotlynn Made (parked) by three-quarters of a length.

A daughter of top sire Bettor’s Delight and Lavros Lodge’s good 10-race-winning Life Sign mare That’s Life Lavra, a winner of $191,346, Lady Lavra is a half-sister to Neffeli Lavra (1:53.9, Aust, eight wins & $A76,035) and Bio Marinus (seven NZ wins, 1:56.9, Aust, 10 wins from 44 starts for $A81,350).

“She’s not a natural two-year-old so was a bonus win and to get black type as well,” Mark said.

“She will go to the paddock for good break now.”

Lady Lavra was the stable’s 36th winner for the season, while Louie Finn, late working clear, nearly made it a winning Forbury double, just failing to run down front-running hot favourite Chittybangbang by a nose in a C1 pace.

By Jeff Scott

TOP STABLEMATES ON LONG ROAD BACK FROM INJURIES

Top class Overport Lodge stablemates, Master Lavros and Saveapatrol, are both making satisfactory progress on the comeback trail for next season.

Master Lavros, getting through water-walker and treadmill work as he begins his comeback.

Former Trotter of the Year and dual Dominion Handicap winner Master Lavros has begun excerising again after a hind suspensory injury derailed his season in Auckland in December.

“The leg scanned up real good,” Mark said.

“He looks like he will return to stable in a month as he has been at Brian Court’s on the water-walker and treadmill,” he said.

Master Lavros, who will be eight next term, has won 19 of 47 lifetime starts for $590,102.

Meanwhile, top pacer Saveapatrol, sidelined with a high tendon injury last September, has done well spelling on the hills.

Mark says spelling on a hill property has helped keep excess weight off the big Christian Cullen gelding.

“He scanned up good. He’s back jogging but its going to be a long slow prep with him,” he said.

Saveapatrol, a year younger than Master Lavros, has raced only 18 times for 11 wins and $145,618 in stakes.

All going well, he’ll have a good build-up through the winter and get his chance in November’s New Zealand Cup at Addington.

By Jeff Scott

NSWHRC CHANGES TO SATURDAY NIGHT MIRACLE MILE

Saturday night has become the “home” of Tabcorp Park Menangle’s metropolitan meetings each week.

Now the Miracle Mile is ready to make the move as well, with the revelation the 2017 Miracle Mile would be run on a Saturday night.

While this year’s finale was deemed an outstanding success, the one fault racegoers found was that the Sunday afternoon racing was too hot for both patrons – and
horses.

So the NSW Harness Racing Club this week decided to move the 2017 Miracle Mile to a Saturday night.

It will be the 50th running of Australia’s greatest sprint and the club revealed the Sky Carnival of Miracles would be run over the corresponding three weeks with
‘Group One Day’ now becoming ‘Group One Night’.

Another significant change announced by the club was that the two qualifying sprints would be run the week before the Miracle Mile.

NSWHRC chief executive, Bruce Christison explained this decision was based around the desire to ensure all horses had the best possible opportunity to contest all
Grand Circuit events.

The move means that there will be a week free of open class group one racing between the Victorian Summer Carnival and Sydney’s Miracle Mile Carnival.

“This will give the connections of all horses the opportunity to plan their Grand Circuit campaign knowing there would be a 14-day gap between the Hunter Cup and
qualifying sprints,” said Christison.

“While the race conditions are still to be finalised, one aspect which will certainly not change is the use of the Chariots of Fire as a qualifying race.

“After the record-breaking performance of Have Faith in Me and the amazing run by Arms of Angel, the introduction of the Chariots of Fire as a qualifier for the
Miracle Mile was an enormous success.”

Christison confirmed the Chariots of Fire would kick off the three-week carnival on Saturday night February 11, with the two sprints to be held a week later on
Saturday night, February 18.

The highlight, naturally, will be Group One Night on Saturday, February 25, featuring six Group One races and headlined by the Miracle Mile.

“While the Sunday Miracle Mile was a winner, one factor the club could not control was the weather and the heat has been an issue over the past four years,” said
Christison.

“Hopefully the move to Saturday night will solve that problem.

“The club is now working on some outstanding promotions to recognise the 50-year history of the event with details to be revealed in coming months.”

Courtesy of Sean Vella, NSWHRC