Get the latest news & information from Mark Jones Harness Racing Stables
Race 7: FAIR DINKUM BROMAC (1, Blair Orange), 2600m std: “Gets bonus this week so he’s doing his job.”
Race 8: EYRE I COME (10, Stevie Golding), mob. 1950m: “Drawn bad but seems good and if he gets around in one piece he will be hard to beat.”
Race 10: DERRINGER (4, Blair Orange), mob. 2200m: “Racing honest and always a chance.”
Race 11: CORINGA DELIGHT (2), 2200m std: “Scratched.”
Overport Lodge foreperson and successful reinswoman Samantha Ottley won’t return until December at the earliest after her luckless racefall at Methven on Sunday, October 18.
She has told boss Mark Jones that she will be sidelined for at least six weeks to allow a chip to her vertebrae to mend.
“Its a shame as we have a few coming up to race but that is the least issue,” Mark said.
“Her well being is the most important thing and it is great news she will make a full recovery.”
Sam was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when back in the running driving Maximus Prime when the strongly-fancied Emmanuel (Natalie Rasmussen) slipped and fell in a forward position turning for home in the C1 3000m pace at Methven.
She was unable to avoid the skirmish being catapulted in the air and landing on her tailbone as four horses and drivers went down.
No risks were taken with the seriousness of the injury. She was transferred by Westpac helicopter to hospital for assessment following the accident.
The other drivers and fallen horses and drivers all escaped without serious injury, with Natalie Rasmussen electing to fulfill her engagement behind Messini, who took out the Terror To Love Methven Cup.
Mark replaced Sam behind stable runner Louie Finn in the ensuing Tinwald Liquorland Mobile Pace.
However, the the horse wasn’t happy in the score-up, tangling and settling back, then running on late for eighth, 4.5 lengths from upset winner Fulham Royale.
By Jeff Scott
Overport Lodge mare Perissa caused mild surprise by pacing the fastest official final 800m for a mare at Addington with her 54.3s to win the junior drivers pace on Friday, October 16.
Even Australasia’s fastest mare and last year’s NZ Cup winner Adore Me (1:47.7, Menangle mile) only recorded one Addington win with leaders last 800m in better than 55s with a 54.9s to win a C5 & faster pace at Addington on April 11, 2014.
Perissa, even allowing for the favourable conditions, caused mild surprise with a 54.3s final 800m to win at Addington on October 16.
Border Control, now a 6YO gelding and NZ’s fastest racewinning miler, holds the distinction of winning the race with the fastest final 800m at Addington of 53.9s over 2600m on January 23, 2014.
Horse of the Year Christen Me won the 2013 Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup (2600m stand) with a closing 800m in 54s even, and also won with a final 800m in 54.2s over 1950m at Addington in April, 2013, from good mares Elusive Chick and Southwind Arden.
He ran his last 800m in 54.9s to win last year’s Woodlands NZ Free-For-All and sub 55s final 800m runs had previously only been regularly shown by the elite pacers in NZ Free-For-Alls.
Christen Me’s sire Christian Cullen himself formerly recorded the quickest official final 800m at Addington in 1998 when running his last 800m in 54.4s in front to win the Air NZ Free-For-All.
Auckland Reactor came from the back early to run his last 800m in 54.4s from parked at the half to win the 2008 Woodlands NZ Free-For-All over 2000m, winning in a 1:54 rate.
He also won with a 54.7s final 800m to win the 2009 Summer Cup and ran 54.8s to win two junior free-for-alls.
Gold Ace ran his last 800m in 54.7s in front to win the 2012 Woodlands NZ Free-For-All when run over the shorter 1609m trip in 1:52.6.
Perissa’s trainer Mark Jones was rapt with the resumption effort and the drive of Craig Ferguson to land her a convincing winner of the C1-2 mares Lamb & Hayward Mobile Pace.
“Craig drove her perfect,” Mark said.
“It would have to be the fastest half for a mare at Addington,” he said.
“She goes good fresh and is a good tough mare.”
Mark says there is a chance the 6YO daughter of Art Major and Riwaka Star may be sold to race in North America after sprinting in over her last 400m in 26.2s.
“If not we will look at the speed series down south with her,” he said.
Perissa, who was kept up to her work on the front-end from the half, rated 1:58.9 for the full 1950m for her fifth win from 47 NZ starts, taking her earnings to $42,876 for owners, Steve and Maureen O’Brien.
In January, she set a Rangiora mares track mark over 2000m when winning in 2:24.8, a 1:56.4 mile rate.
She also rated 1:57 to win over 1950m at Addington on July 10.
Perissa is the last foal from Riwaka Star, an In The Pocket mare from Tabella Ace, a Splapstick mare who won three from 19 starts for Roy and Barry Purdon in the late 1980s.
Riwaka Star, who recorded five placings from just 10 starts, including a third to Happy Golucky and Impish in the 1999 G2 Nevele R Stud Stakes, is a half-sister to a Group One winning filly in Slaps (2:00.2, Aust, 22 wins & $A142,344 including the 1993 South Australian Oaks).
She is also a sister to Riwaka Rocket (1:56, Aust, 28 wins & $119,227), and a half-sister to another useful Australian winner in Riwaka Vance (1:57.6, Aust, 15 wins & $A114,499), and the NZ winner Kaipara Rocket (four wins).
Meanwhile Southland junior reinsman, and part-time Overport Lodge winter employee Craig Ferguson, continues to make every trip north a winning one as he strives for a junior drivers title this term.
Craig, in his final season as a junior, was backing up from an upset win with fellow Overport runner Fair Dinkum Bromac at Timaru on October 4.
He advanced to seven wins to join Kimberly Butt in second place on the premiership junior table, now five behind early leader Brad Williamson.
By Jeff Scott
Sam Ottley, the first female junior reinswoman to drive 100 winners in NZ and a former junior premiership winner, joined the Overport Lodge stable of Mark Jones last week.
“She is a big asset to the stable with her experience and driving ability,” Mark said,
“It’s important she gets back to the trials/workouts and back freelance driving alot as she is wasted sitting in the stand,” he said.
To this end, she will drive stable runner Louie Finn at Methven on Sunday.
Sam Ottley was NZ’s top junior in 2014 in her final season with junior concessions with 52 wins, 10 ahead of Sailesh Abernethy. She finished her junior career with 122 driving wins.
Sam won her first raceday drive on her 18th birthday behind Nigel Paul, a horse trained at Orari by her mother Denise, in a one-win race at the Kurow meeting at Oamaru on August 3, 2008.
Her junior career blossomed under the guidance of trainers Colin and Julie De Filippi.
During her early career, she partnered former Dominion Handicap winning trotter Stylish Monarch, two low-grade races in 2009.
She also scored an upset win in the 2012 Geraldine Cup behind the Colin and Julie De Filippi-trained mare Just Rose, and partnered that stable’s top trotter Stent, for a race win, and also a second in the Group One 2013 NZ Trotting Championship.
Sam also racked up 41 wins in her first season as a support open driver last term when attached to the Robert Dunn stable.
She has only had 27 drives this term for one win.
Race 1: FAIR DINKUM BROMAC (8, Phill Anderson) mob. 1950m: “He couldn’t go with them in his own class last week so I’ve dropped him back to an amateur race. He’s only two starts off a Met multiplier so he’ll keeping going for that.”
Race 4: PERISSA (5, Craig Ferguson), mob. 1950m: “She’s had a freshen-up but had a run at the Methven workouts last week. She usually goes good fresh so should be competitive.”
Race 10: LOUIE FINN (8, Sam Ottley), mob. 2300m: “He’s had a freshen-up. He’s placed both grass starts so it won’t worry him. Sam’s working for me now so can drive him.”
Outside drive
Race 9: FRANCO HARRINGTON (2), 3000m std: “He’s won on a grass track before. Is racing good and in a strong race but a chance again.”
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
A few withdrawals and some subtle rankings changes are starting to slowly clear the picture heading towards the springs features for our best pacers and trotters.
Franco Ledger, withdrawn this week from the $750,00 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup.
In the last week the NZ Cup has lost Dalton Bromac, Jivin Cullen, Easy On The Eye and Franco Ledger.
The Dominion has lost Kyvalley Blur, Used To Me, Royal Aspirations and Escapee.
Within the rankings themselves last week’s racing saw some make their way up the respective tables. The Canterbury Classic and its NZ Cup-start-guarantee means Christen Me, Tiger Tara and Smolda are now one, two, three. Mossdale Conner has jumped up to 10th following his fourth in the Canterbury Classic.
For her solid 6th in the Classic, the strongest lead-up race so far, Delightful Dash improved her position to 27th from 33rd after a small jump and defections.
In the Dominion rankings the improvers almost came from one stable only. The Greg and Nina Hope trio of Quite A Moment, Harrysul and Monbet all moved up in the rankings courtesy of their strong showings. They now sit 11th, 18th and 20th respectively.
Al Bundy was rewarded with a small jump following his win in Auckland last week and Wingsonhai edged ahead of Prestine in what was essentially a match-race from last Friday night.
Latest NZ Cup rankings
1 Christen Me, 2 Tiger Tara, 3 Smolda, 4 Arden Rooney, 5 Franco Nelson, 6 Ohoka Punter, 7 Sky Major, 8 Corzin Terror, 9 Lancewood Lizzie, 11 Venus Serena, 12 Forever Gold, 13 Mighty Flying Mac, 14 Bit Of A Legend, 15 Belkmyster.
Outside the cut-line: 16 Te Kawau, 17 Alleluia, 18 Choise Achiever, 19 Messini, 20 Brilliant Strike, 21 Chancellor Cullen, 22 No Doctor Needed, 23 Bettor Dream, 24 Mach’s Gladiator, 25 Lewy Risk, 26 Delightful Dash, 27 Quick As A Trick, 28 Ideal Success, 29 Provocative Prince, 30 Major Star.
Withdrawn: Franco Ledger, Easy On The Eye, Jivin Cullen, Dalton Bromac, Jason Rulz, Mach Beauty, Ballindooley, Major Bubbles, Saveapatrol, Zakspatrol.
Latest Dominon rankings:
1 Stent, 2 Sheemon, 3 Master Lavros, 4 Kincaslough, 5 Alley Way, 6 Vincennes, 7 One Over Da Moon, 8 Jag’s Invasion, 9 King Denny, 10 Habibti , 11 Quite A Moment, 12 Daryl Boko, 13 Prime Power, 14 Realmein, 15 Valmagne.
Outside the cut-line: 16, Overanova, 17 Springbank Sam, 18 Harrysul, 19 Cool Cobber, 20 Monbet, 21 Uncas, 22 Majestic Time, 23 Leanne’s Boy, 24 Al Bundy, 25 Wingsonhai, 26 Prestine.
Withdrawals: Kyvalley Blur, Used To Me, Royal Aspirations, Boizel, Escapee, Clover Don, Maori Time, Sol Invictus, Waterloo Sunset, Monty Python, Live The Dream, Speeding Spur, Jaccka Justy.
Courtesy of Courtney Clarke, Communications and Marketing | Harness Racing New Zealand Inc
Addington is thrilled to announce that The Wilson Sisters, Vicki, Kelly and Amanda from TV One’s hit show Keeping Up With The Kaimanawas will be our special guests this year at Cup Day.
The Wilson sisters, who will be guests at Addington on NZ Cup day.
The sisters from Hukerenui, Northland have become some of New Zealand’s most prominent and popular equestrian personalities in recent years following their success in competition, their work with the wild Kaimanawa horses and high profile appearances in media.
This year they have become hugely popular throughout New Zealand and further afield through the documentary TV series Keeping Up With The Kaimanawas. The series which screened earlier in the year has rated massively, with more than half a million tuning in to episode one; it was the best watched evening show on any channel and third highest rated overall after One News and Seven Sharp.
Since the show the three have been in hot demand for television, radio and newspaper interviews and have even appeared in celebrity women’s magazines.
Kelly Wilson commented: “Vicki, Amanda and I can’t wait to be at Addington on Cup Day. We’ve never been, heard so much about it and can’t wait to get dressed up, be part of the glitz and glamour and take part in all the action.
Obviously, we love horses and it will be great to see another side of it with the harness horse racing.”
The Lindauer Lawn is one big party and with kiwi band Salmonella Dub also performing it’ll be one of the places to be. The Wilson Sisters will be spending time there as well as meeting folk throughout the course.
In October 2014 their first book “For the Love of Horses: The Wilson Sisters Inspiring Journey to Save New Zealand’s Wild Horses” was published and within weeks it was on the non-fiction best-selling list. Their second book “Stallion Challenges” has just been recently released through Penguin Random House.
The sisters can be followed on their highly popular Facebook page – www.facebook.com/www.wilsonsisters.nz
Apart from our special guests’ appearance, New Zealand Trotting Cup Day will
play host to an array of stars from the worlds of fashion and entertainment, not to mention high class harness racing action with the highlight being the running of the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup.
Courtesy of Ged Mooar, Marketing & Commercial Manager, Addington
Outside drive
Race 7: NERO STAR (3), mob. 2000m: “An improver’s run last start on the grass. From the draw should be an each-way chance.”
Top squaregaiter Master Lavros again pleased his connections by doing everything right at the start to win a second Group Three $25,000 Yaldhurst Hotel Canterbury Park Trotting Cup at Addington on Friday, October 9.
Overport Lodge Woodend foreman Regan Todd took the trek down to the start to get a first hand look at the giant trotter when the tapes were released with the boss Mark Jones stepping Master Lavros perfectly from the inside of the 20m line.
Favourite Master Lavros leads the 2015 Yaldhurst Hotel Canterbury Park Trotting Cup with a lap to run for trainer Mark Jones. Zachary Binx trails with Quite A Moment three back. Uncas is parked ahead of Sheemon and Habibti in the running line.
Mark had the favourite out of early trouble switching him out wide and into the running line, then sending him to the top beginning the last 1600m.
Master Lavros was revelling in his work turning for home, leaving the others flat-footed as he ran clear.
The big Sundon gelding was travelling so well Mark didn’t have to activate the horse’s removeable deafeners.
Quite A Moment, who trailed early, then was three back from the 1600m, unwound well when she found racing room to get within a length of three quarters of the winner but never got close enough to threaten.
Harrysul, a stablemate of Quite A Moment in the Greg and Nina Hope stable, also ran home well late for third with Sheemon, given the run of the race on the outer, unable to quicken at the business end.
Master Lavros joined About Now (1981 & 1983), Tussle (1985 & Feb, 1987), Basil Dean (1984 & Jan, 1987) and Dr Hook (2010-2011) as dual Canterbury Park Trotting Cup winners.
He also started in last year’s race but wasn’t trotting as well as he is this year. He had to settle for fourth last year to Habibti, who posted a race and mares NZ record of 3:16.7, since equalled by Kincaslough.
Owner Kypros Kotzikas (left) is presented with the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup trophy by Brent Smith, deputy Chairman of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club.
Both Habibti and Kincaslough were mistake makers in the 2015 race. Habibti, after trailing three back on the outer, hung and broke at the 400m, with Kincaslough losing all chance with 2100m and being pulled up.
Master Lavros, the NZ mobile 2600m record holder (3:13.1), trotted the 2600m stand for his latest win in a strong 3:18.8, running his last 800m in 57.8s and knocking off a touch in the run home into a cool easterly breeze in 29.1s.
This was his 18th win from 44 starts for owner Kypros Kotzikas, taking his earnings to $443,502.
He will be looking to close the gap on arch rival Stent in the four-week countdown to big cup NZ Cup week trot features, the $80,000 Granite Beachtop NZ Trotting Free-For-All (1950m) on November 10, and the $250,000 Hellers Dominion (3200m stand) at Addington on November 13.
Mark bypassed the mobile NZ Trotting Free-For-All last year with Master Lavros but is giving consideration to starting him in both Cup week features this year.
Astrapi is to be withdrawn from the Rangiora Harness Racing Club’s meeting after being sold out of the Mark Jones stable during the week.
Astrapi, moving on after winning four races for owner Kypros Kotzikas.
The 6YO younger brother to former Interdominion winner Delft (Sundon-Miriam) won four and picked up six placings for $27,201 for breeder and former owner, Kypros Kotzikas.
He won his debut at Nelson in January 2013 when initially prepared by Tim Butt, however three starts later he was transferred to Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones after his form tapered.
Astrapi mixed his gait fresh and was pulled up when resuming at Timaru last Sunday,
However, he had earlier trialled safely at Ashburton on September 29 in a heat won by Lothario in 3:12.1 (2400m).
The Mark Jones stable moved to six wins for the new term when Fair Dinkum Bromac scored an upset win in the junior drivers race at Timaru.
Robert Dunn leads the new season premiership with nine wins after the opening two months of the new term.
