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SAN FRAN LADY NOTCHES 30TH CAREER WIN IN USA

Former Overport Lodge mare San Fran Lady continues to make her mark in North America as a 9YO to NZ time, and now a 10-year-old to Northern Hemisphere time.

The Live Or Die-Emcil mare scored at Dover Downs, Delaware, on January 31, leading throughout a $US6000 conditioned pace to win in 1:53.6 (10ths) for her first win in four starts in 2016.

San Fran Lady, warming up at Rangiora six years ago for the Mark Jones stable.

She gets a chance to further her record from the ace barrier in a $US8500 fillies and mares pace at Dover Downs on February 9 for the Steve Le Blanc stable.

San Fran Lady, bred by Frances and Max Bowden, won three of 16 NZ starts for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, and continued to race successfully in Australia, before ending up in North America.

She won 15 times in Australia, paced 1:53 there and won the Group Three $30,00 Sky Super Sprint Final at Newcastle, in November 2010.

Six years on, San Fran Lady racked up her 30th career win from 102 starts with her latest Delaware success, taking her earnings to the equivalent of $NZ233,000.

She has lowered her lifetime mile best to 1:52 in North America.

San Fran Lady’s half-brothers, Union Buster (1:58.4) and Princeton (1:57.7), also furthered their careers in Australia after winning early in their careers for the Mark Jones stable.

Union Buster (by Union Guy) won 11 races and $A26,440 while racing in South Australia, while Princeton, racing as At Princeton in West Australia, has won 10 races and earned $A68,401.

NZ OAKS NOMS CLOSING EARLY

February 2, 2016

Nominations for the 2016 The Breeders NZ Oaks will be taken mid-February to increase exposure and to enable fixed odds markets to open earlier.

Nominations for the Oaks will close at 3.00pm on Wednesday, February 24, 2016.

The Breeders New Zealand Oaks – $150,000 – Group 1 – May 21, 2016

Initial nomination fee Wednesday February 24, 3pm NZ time $75

First late nomination fee Wednesday March 23, 3pm NZ time $750

First withdrawal fee Wednesday March 23, 3pm NZ time $150

Second withdrawal fee Wednesday April 20, 3pm NZ time $300

Final late nomination fee Monday May 16, 1pm NZ time $3,750

Starting fee $1,875

All fees are plus GST.

All fees above are included in the total stakes pay out.

The 2016 The Breeders New Zealand Oaks will be run for a stake of $150,000.

Please note that horses must be withdrawn by the specified dates above otherwise owners will be liable for payments.

For full details including breakdowns of stakes on the above please visit addington.co.nz/racing/promotions-incentives/.
Alternatively, please call Brian, Richard or Colin of Addington’s Racing Department on (03) 338 9094.

Courtesy of Keryn McElroy, 

Business & Marketing Manager,

Addington.

LENNY LIES IN WAIT FOR MIRACLE MILE RIVALS

Lennytheshark has become the first horse into the 2016 SEW Eurodrive Miracle Mile, thanks to his masterful win in last Saturday night’s Victoria Cup at Melton on January 30, 2016.

Connections were delighted to accept the invitation, even though it means they cannot contest either of the traditional lead-up sprints the Coca-Cola Amatil or Cordina Chicken Farms Sprint on February 13, two weeks before the Miracle Mile.

Lennytheshark and Chris Alford, hold the Allstars challlenge from Smolda (inner) in the 2016 Victoria Cup at Tabcorp Park, Melton, on January 30.

“No problem, we’ll just come for the one race and hopefully win the one that matters,” said Lennytheshark’s trainer David Aiken, who was in Sydney on Monday to inspect Menangle Park’s new Training Centre, which officially opened last Saturday.

“We’re taking 10 boxes at the Training Centre, and that’s where Lennytheshark will be stabled when he makes the trip,” Aiken said.

The remaining spots in the eight-horse Miracle Mile field are well and truly up for grabs and will be filled by horses that must contest any of the three $A200,000 lead-up features at Menangle.

“The two Sprints and the Chariots of Fire will decide the rest of the field,” said NSWHRC chief executive Bruce Christison.

“The winner and the runner-up in the Coca-Cola and Cordina Chicken Farms Sprint will automatically qualify for an invitation to the Miracle Mile as will the winner of the Chariots Of Fire run the same night (February 13).

“The last two spots and the two emergencies will come from those that contested any of those three races mentioned.”

Christison confirmed a second runner from the $A200,000 Form 700 Chariots of Fire could certainly be invited into the $A750,000 Miracle Mile if the club’s directors felt he or she should be there.

Courtesy of . . .

ROCKER BAND OVERCOMES OUTSIDE 2ND ROW AT MILE START

An outside second row draw at the Addington mile start on January 15 couldn’t stop impressive 4YO mare Rocker Band from remaining unbeaten this season.

While second favourite New Years Jay led up the three wide line from the outside of the front row, moving to parked at the 750m, Rocker Band had to dodge early breaker Flyin Heather, settling last.

Rocker Band unleashes her winning sprint outside New Year’s Jay and Betty Golightly in the Prodigal Seelster Summer Of Speed Series Heat at Addington.

She was able to work up with a three wide trail behind stablemate Perissa then launched four wide turning for home after Perissa couldn’t go on at the 300m.

Rocker Band stormed past the leaders for Samantha Ottley to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths in a useful 1:55.5 for the 1609m in drizzly wet conditions.

Happy Heidi rallied well along the markers to grab second ahead of New Years Jay and Change The Rulz, with Perissa tiring to finish eighth.

Rocker Band, a daughter of Rocknroll Hanover and 2005 NZ Cup-winning mare Mainland Banner, snuck just under the radar into the conditions of the Prodigal Seelster Summer Of Speed Series for non-winner of $65,000 lifetime.

Now unbeaten in three starts this term, she lifted her earnings to $63,190 with this latest win, her seventh from 17 starts.

The $16,000 Prodigal Seelster Summer of Speed Series Final will be run at Ashburton on February 6.

With 50m to go, Samantha Ottley has no concerns as Rocker Band strides clear from Happy Heidi (partly obscured inner).

The Speed Series Final is to be run six days ahead of the Group Two $40,000 Garrards Horse & Hound Premier Mares Championship at Addington on Friday, February 12, another mares target for Rocker Band.

Rocker Band’s driver Sam Ottley moved to nine driving wins for the term (including three wins with Rocker Band), while trainer Mark Jones advanced to 26 wins and retains fifth place on the trainers premiership.

By Jeff Scott