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TEXAS TERROR TAKES LEG OF LEVY MEMORIAL IN 1:51

Texas Terror, sold after finishing fourth at his lone NZ 2YO start for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones at Winton six years ago, was the fastest elimination winner of the Geore Morton Levy Memorial Series at Yonkers Raceway, New York, on Sunday (NZ time).

Now eight, the Western Terror-Alicia Maree gelding won his $US50,000 elimination heat in a lifetime best of 1:51 around the half-mile Yonkers circuit.

Texas Terror, initially developed by Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, takes out a $US50,000 Levy Memorial Heat at Yonkers on Sunday, March 21, in 1:51. (Photo courtesy of Mike Lizzi).

Texas Terror ran fourth behind former NZ Sapling Stakes winner Monaghan in a 2YO mile, won in 1:59, at Winton, before doing a solid job in Australia.

Last October, in his final Australian start, Texas Terror won in 1:51.8 at Menangle, Australia.

This was his second USA win in nine starts this year.

From small beginnings, Texas Terror has now scored 17th lifetime wins, taking his earnings past $140,000.

Texas Terror is from the same maternal family as unbeaten Overport Lodge 2YO filly Delightful Memphis, with both having as their third dam, the 1999 NZ Broodmare Excellence Award winner Deborah Dundee.

This is the same line that produced former brilliant 2 & 3YO Courage Under Fire (1:54.1), and a smart former Overport Lodge winner in Ransom Olds (p3, 1:54.9).

Another ex-Kiwi to win a leg of the Levy Memorial eliminations was former dual Australasian Breeders champion, Bit Of A Legend, who won the fifth heat in a career best winning mile of 1:52.

Another ex-Kiwi to feature in the first of the $US50,000 heats was Texican, who ran a head second to Take It Back Terry, who lasted in 1:51.2 (fifths).

By Jeff Scott

ROCKER BAND TOO CLASSY IN SOUTHERN BELLE SPEED FINAL

Maturing 4YO mare Rocker Band wasn’t fazed by travelling the length of the NZ within a week to take out the $19,743 Southern Belle Speed Series Final at Winton on Saturday, March 19.

The daughter of Rocknroll Hanover and Mainland Banner ran a strong second to Lusty Mac in the $40,000 Northern Mares Classic at Auckland on Friday, March 11, then flew into Christchurch the next morning.

Rocker Band, and Samantha Ottley, who took out the Southern Belle Speed Series Final at Winton on Saturday. Photo: Bruce Stewart, Southland Harness Racing.co.nz

She trekked south to Winton for the final leg of the Southern Belle Speed Series, after winning her heat in a career best 1:53.3 in December.

Rocker Band again showed her class down south, pressing forward from the outside front gate to take control at the 900m for driver Samantha Ottley.

Sam was able to get a breather with the favourite from the 800m to the 400m in 29.7s, with Rocker Band proving too slick over her final 400m in 26s.

She cut out the mile in this occasion in 1:55.4, holding Motu Moonbeam (trail) and PIcobello (three back) comfortably by 1 1/4 lengths.

Rocker Band was recording her fourth win from eight starts this term for $43,807, while she’s now won eight of only 22 lifetime starts for $85,622 for Gold Coast owner, Greg Brodie.

Trainer Mark Jones has the $100,000 NZ Breeders Stakes at Addington on April 1, and the $150,000 Harness Jewels 4Y0 Mares Diamond at Cambridge on June 4, as upcoming late season targets for Rocker Band.

However, she is now likely to have prematurely early retired Allstars mare Fight For Glory as a rival in those features after it was announced she has freshened well following her unplaced run in the Ladyship Mile at Menangle late last month.

Rocker Band’s Winton win furthered a good week for the Overport Lodge stable.

A week ago, Delightful Memphis remained unbeaten in her first two Group 3 starts when taking out the $25.000 Caduceus Club Of Southland/Nevele R Stud Mobile Pace at Ascot Park, Invercargill on March 12.

The promising Bettor’s Delight filly overcame a second row draw for catch driver Ricky May to outsprint Allstars runner Renske B to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 2:45.5 (2200m), the last 800m in 56.1s and final 400m in 27.1s.

Delightful Memphis is likely to try and stretch her unbeaten run to three in a Sires Stakes Fillies Heat at Addington this Saturday night (March 26).

Franco Exeter, compiling a useful record for owner Wayne Higgs and trainer Mark Jones.

The Mark Jones stable also notched  a double at the grass invited drivers day at Waikouaiti on Thursday, March 17, with the hardy Fair Dinkum Bromac, and lightly-raced Franco Exeter.

Fair Dinkum Bromac, the 9YO veteran of 156 starts, brought up his 10th career win for catch-driver Jimmy Curtin at Waikouaiti.

Trainer Mark Jones has made the most of the drop-back handicap concessions over the last three seasons with Fair Dinkum Bromac, who now returns to a C2 assessment.

Franco Exeter (5g Lis Mara-Elisit Franco), now the winner of two and twice second from four starts for owner Wayne Higgs, contributed to driver Dexter Dunn winning the drivers series when he justified his favouritism in a C1-2 invited drivers pace.

PAINTLAB 4 JONTY NEW ZEALAND TROTTING DERBY

Addington is proud to announce that harness racing enthusiasts Nigel and Brenda Armstrong, of Paintlab Hornby, are the new business partner for the Group One $80,000 New Zealand Trotting Derby Race to be run on Friday, April 8.

What is unbelievable about this sponsorship is Nigel and Brenda are gifting naming rights to this prestigious race to support the gorgeous 3-year-old Jonty Smolenski, who has a rare genetic syndrome called Trichothiodystrophy.

The official name of the race will be Paintlab Racing 4 Jonty New Zealand Trotting Derby.

Nigel commented: “We have known the Smolenski Family for many years through our love of harness racing and Brenda and I wish to support Jonty as much as possible as he needs to fly to Washington DC in July for treatment, so putting our sponsored race towards helping Jonty was a no brainer.

“A logo has been designed in Jonty’s honour and will appear on all of our colours. Also for every horse of ours that wins, 2.5% of the stake will go towards helping Jonty.”

Addington is supporting the Smolenski’s by making their charity of choice for the months of April and May ‘Jonty’s Journey’.

This was obviously meant to be as wee Jonty’s birthday is the 18 May.

Addington has also bought a table at the fundraising dinner on Saturday, April 2, that will be hosted by Steve Hansen and Bondy from More FM at the Hornby Working Men’s Club.

I am sure everyone reading this release will agree that Nigel and Brenda Armstrong have extremely kind hearts.

Courtesy of Keryn McElroy,
Business & Marketing Manager,
Addington.