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Race 4: FAIR DINKUM BROMAC (6, Tony Cameron), mob. 2600m: “He’s been going a bit better lately. Has a chance of running in the money again in an open race.”
Race 8: PERISSA (8, Robbie Close), mob. 1950m: “Goose (Robbie Close) got on good with her last week. She should go good in a similar field with Valor Lustre the main danger.”
Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones will return top pacer Saveapatrol to Canterbury and freshen him for the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru in two months time.
Saveapatrol, shown winning the 2015 Thames Cup at Auckland on July 3. (Trish Dunell photo).
“There was no race for him in Auckland last week but he couldn’t have raced anyway as he picked up a foot infection,” Mark said of the Thames Cup winner.
“He’s still getting over the foot infection this week so I’m not worried about starting him and the field is not guaranteed to get off the ground anyway.”
Mark says the big Christian Cullen-Rondel Franco gelding can have a couple of weeks off.
“He’ll head home this week and get ready for the Hannon (September 13),” he said.
Meanwhile, the stable stocks have been boosted with the arrival of speedy juvenile filly Northern Velocity, who was purchased this month out of the Allstars stable by Australian interests and transferred to Mark Jones.
“She will have a good spell and return for the 3YO Sires Stakes Fillies Heats in November or early December,” he said.
The Group One 3YO Sires Stakes Fillies Championship is run at Auckland on December 31.
She will try and add the PGG Wrightson Yearling Sales 3YO Fillies Pace at Addington next February to her big win in the Listed $146,250 2YO PGG Yearling Sales 2YO Fillies Pace at Addington on May 15.
Northern Velocity, a half-sister by Mach Three to former NZ Free-For-All winner Pembrook Benny (1:53.6), along with Pembrook Caesar (1:53, Aust) and former five-win Overport Lodge winner Holme Fire (1:58.8), won three of eight 2YO starts for the Mark Purdon/Natalie Rasmussen team, earning $140,560.
Besides her PGG win, she also won two Group Three features, the American Ideal Leonard Memorial at the Cheviot meeting on March 1, and the Caduceus Club-Southland/Nevele R Stud Fillies Classic at Invercargill on March 21, and chased home Arden’s Choice in the G1 $113,406 Woodlands Stud/Caduceus Club 2YO Fillies Classic at Auckland on April 17.
Northern Velocity , despite being unsettled before the start of the Harness Jewels 2YO Diamond at her final 2YO start on May 30, still ran sixth to Dream About Me, being racetimed in 1:54.8 for the mile.
By Jeff Scott
Durable mare Perissa raised her hoof as a leading contender for the $11,000 Breeders Golden Girls Metro Series Final on July 31, with her heat win at Addington last Friday, July 10.
The series is a useful winter target for the Art Major mare as she is eligible for another heat at Addington this Thursday, leading into the final.
Perissa, out-toughed her rivals in a the Second C0-2 Golden Girls Heat at Addington on Friday.
Perissa was at her best again, ruffling the winter coats of her rivals, with a positive drive in last Friday’s heat.
Form junior Robbie Close made a play for the lead a lap out in the second heat of the $7820 Trevinos Restaurant & Bar Golden Girls Pace.
He was denied the front by Christian Lady (Peter McCelland) but when he put the acid test on at the 500m, Perissa maintained her free-flowing style.
She was two lengths clear turning for home and kept up to her work by Robbie, doubled the winning margin in the run home.
She rated a superb 1:57 for the mobile 1950m on a freezing night, maintaining her composure over her last 800m in 59.2s and final 400m in 28.7s.
Perissa, ultra-consistent since joining the Overport Lodge team of Mark Jones last November, has been well-placed.
She remains on a C2 assessement, despite this being her fourth career win and her third win for the Jones stable.
Her earnings advanced to $36,576 for owners Steve and Maureen O’Brien.
She has a career best mile rate of 1:56.4 (mobile 2000m), set when setting a track record 2:24.8 at Rangiora on December 31.
Christian Lady called on a renewed effort for trainer Peter McCelland to hold second, with Little Tess and The Tisbury Terror fighting out the minors.
The Overport Lodge stable of Mark Jones won the opening three legs of Friday’s Turbo Pick6 at the combined Auckland and Addington venues.
Perissa kicked off the novelty Pick6, followed by Kowhai Monarch, who recovered from a safe but cautious opening 300m to notch a maiden trot win when driven by her trainer in the TVH Parts Trot at Auckland.
Kowhai Monarch, a Monarchy half-brother to three-win trot mare Kowhai Sunrise, and other good winners in Kowhai Whiz (five wins), McCready two) and the Drunken Drummer (four), improved wide with cover to dispute the pace in the open beginning the final 800m.
He maintained a strong run to win by a length in 2:58.4 for the stand start 2200m.
The stable racked up a hat-trick of quick wins when Expresso Martini was finally rewarded for a consistent formline in the C1 Tyre General Mobile Pace at Addington.
The Met Eight Syndicate-owned pacer enjoyed a saloon run through from the back row to land a one out one back sit.
Left parked at the 900m when Stunin Dude pressed to the top, he rallied gamely for driver Blair Orange.
Expresso Martini kept kicking to score by a head from Hunter Bromac, and outsider It’s All Over Now.
The Bettor’s Delight-Putting On The Glitz gelding rated 1:58.6 for the mobile 1950m, the leaders running their last 800m in 59.7s and final 400m in 28.5s.
The winning treble moved Mark to 64 training wins for the season and fourth on the national table, the same role he filled last term.
By Jeff Scott
Race 9: TWICE THE DELIGHT (3, Brent Mangos) & REAL TORQUE (10, Kimberly Butt), mob. 1700m:
“Will try Twice The Delight in front as has been disappointing.”
“Real Torque is racing great and a good chance with luck.”
Race 4: PERISSA (7, Robbie Close), mob. 1950m: “Good effort last week and a big winning hope.”
Race 5: EXPRESSO MARTINI (13, Blair Orange), mob. 1950m: “Having no luck with draws but a good show.”
Race 8: SOMEARDENSOMEWHERE (2, Kimberly Butt), mob. 1950m: “Tough field but gets a Met Multiplier (bonus) this week.”
Race 2: POMME ROY (6, Michael Blakemore), mob. 2200m: “Disappointed last week but will go forward and leads as he is good in front and this should see an improved effort.”
Race 3: KOWHAI MONARCH (11, Mark), UR 3, 2200m std: “Only needs to do things right to be a winning chance.”
Race 6: SUNOFLINDENNY (4, Mark), UR 1, 10m, 2700m std: “Racing good and a top three chance again.”
Race 7: ZAKSPATROL (6, Mark), mob. 2700m: “Racing super and an each-way chance again.”
Race 9: ROCKER BAND (6, Mark), mob. 2200m: “Driven upside down last week and can figure if she relaxes.”
Outside drive
Race 4: CHEVRONS EASY (3), mob. 2200m: “A maiden of Cran (Dalgety’s) who should be an each-way chance from the draw.”
Zena Mac, racing generously and a chance for Robbie Close in the junior drivers race at Oamaru on Sunday.
Race 6: ZENA MAC (4, Robbie Close), mob. 2600m: “Only needs an ounce of luck to be a winning hope.”
Race 7: SOMEARDENSOMEWHRE (13, Blair Orange), UR 1, 10m, 2600m std: “Will need luck from handicap.”
Race 9: FAIR DINKUM BROMAC (3, Blair Orange), 2000m std: “Gets in the right race and I actually think he’s a winning show.”
A decisive return to winning form by Saveapatrol in the $18,500 Bayleys Coromandel 2015 Thames Cup hasn’t changed plans for the horse to cross the Tasman any time soon.
“Its great to get him back in the winner’s circle,” said trainer Mark Jones.
Saveapatrol cruises to the wire for Blair Orange in the 2015 Thames Cup at Alexandra Park (Trish Dunell photo).
“A lot of the credit goes to Regan (Todd) for the work he does with him,” he said.
Following the Thames Cup on Friday, July 3, Mark, and owner Grant Hatton, confirmed their decision for the horse to remain in Auckland this month.
Saveapatrol made a smart beginning from the 20m line and was in front after the opening 500m.
The lightly-raced big boy son of Christian Cullen and Rondel Franco revelled in his work on the front-end, second-up after an enforced 14 month layoff.
Although inclined to knock off a tad when he clearly had his rivals beaten inside the final 100m, Saveapatrol was super impressive, pacing the 2700m (stand) in a race record 3:22.2 (2:00.4 mile rate).
Driver Blair Orange put the hammer down passing the final 800m, letting Saveapatrol quicken from that point in a slick 55.5s.
Owner Grant Hatton, and wife Katherine, with Saveapatrol, after taking out the Bayleys Coromandel-sponsored Thames Cup. (Trish Dunell photo).
Saveapatrol, even though knocking off at the finish, still steam-rolled the opposition over his closing 400m in 27.6s.
Everything now over the next four months will prep the former Auckland Cup placegetter for the New Zealand Cup at Addington in November.
“He’ll just continue to race in Auckland and come back south for the Hannon Memorial etc. in the spring as the second Tuesday in November is the aim,” Mark said.
Saveapatrol has now raced only 18 times for 11 wins and a couple of minor placings, for $145,618 in stakes.
Providing he stays sound, and with regular racing, he could be one of the best prepared for this year’s 3200m cup.
Mark also picked up solid place money with stablemates, Zakspatrol (strong-finishing second) and the consistent squaregaiter Sunoflindenny (third) on Friday.
Oasis Dream and Kowhai Monarch ran sound fourths, and Landora’s Girl finished fifth, but Rocker Band, Pomme Roy and Twice The Delight were all unplaced.
Rocker Band, after sprinting hard early to wrest the lead in the C2-4 pace, over-raced and dropped away in the run home.
Pomme Roy tired after working early from the outside gate to race parked in a C1-2 pace, while Twice The Delight, wilted after trailing in the C1-2 mares pace.
By Jeff Scott
Race 4: PERISSA (10, Robbie Close) & ZENA MAC (11, Wayne Higgs), mob. 1950m: “Perissa wasn’t right at her last start at Marlborough. Looking for luck from the draw.”
“Zena Mac did well making ground late in her first C1 start last week. She’s racing super and always a chance.”
Race 6: EXPRESSO MARTINI (8, Ricky May), mob. 2600m: “Had no luck at Blenheim and can win with the right run.
Race 7: SOMEARDENSOMEWHERE (8, Kimberly Butt), mob. 1950m: “He over-raced when at his last start at Rangiora. Finds a harness-plus race but will need luck in a good field.”
Race 1: ZAKSPATROL (10, Michael Blakemore), mob. 2700m: “Won well first-up here last week but got favours. Is in the right race and has got to be a big hope again.
Race 4: TWICE THE DELIGHT (1, Mark), mob. 2200m: “Shade disappointing last week fresh-up and is in a strong field again.”
Pomme Roy,scored decisively last week and with the right luck from the outside of the front row could repeat at Alexandra Park tonight.
Race 5: POMME ROY (8, Michael Blakemore), mob. 2200m: “Went super last week but draw makes it tougher this week.”
Race 6: SUNOFLINDENNY (4, Mark), mob. 2200m: “Racing great but One Over Da Moon has been a bit too good for us. Place chance again.”
Race 7: SAVEAPATROL (8, Blair), 2, 20m, 2700m std: “He had no luck last week. I’ve made gear changes and he seems better. ”
Race 9: OASIS DREAM (1, Zac Butcher) & ROCKER BAND (9, Mark), mob. 2200m:
“Oasis Dream raced good again at Cambridge last week. He’s drawn to get a good run and a place hope.
“Rocker Band won well at Cambridge last week. She’s drawn bad but seems very well and a big hope.”
Race 10: LANDORA’S GIRL (7, Mark), UR 1, & KOWHAI MONARCH (8, Blair), UR 3, 2200m std:
“Landora’s Girl stepped last week then met a check so it wasn’t her fault. If she trots she can win.”
“Kowhai Monarch also met trouble last week locking wheels just after the start. If he trots he can win also !.”
Race 9: ALL DELIGHT (8, Craig Thornley), mob. 2000m: “Honest and should be competitive with the right luck in a C2-4 mares race.”
Race 7: HIGHVIEW ANWELL (7, Blair Orange), mob. 2200m: “We’ve only had him a few days after Regan (Todd) claimed him last week. Hopefully, he’ll race as good as he has been but probably just a place chance. His former stablemates, Onedin Mach and Starsky’s Dream, have been dominating these C3-6 races.”
Class pacer Saveapatrol is to remain in Auckland for winter racing after finishing seventh to former stablemate Johnny Fox at Auckland on Friday night, June 26.
Saveapatrol, in action at the Addington trials earlier this month. He’ll continue to race in Auckland next month.
Saveapatrol, first-up for 15 months, had things go against him as the beaten favourite in the C3-7 Smith & Partners 2015 Winter Cup.
“We have pulled pin on the Oz (Queensland) trip as he had to win other night to warrant going,” said trainer Mark Jones.
“It was frustrating when he couldn’t get the front as it would have been good to give him every chance,” he said.
Saveapatrol made a dab for the lead mid-race but when the lead wasn’t there, had to restrain to trail, then was shuffled three back.
“The situation was made worst when a stablemate of the leader got handed a easy lead,” Mark said.
“Saveapatrol over-raced bad after that but that is racing I guess.
“I was a bit disappointed my horse didn’t finish it off better but after pulling hard and being fresh-up for so long he will only improve,” he said.
Saveapatrol’s owner Grant Hatton, along with wife Katherine, had better fortunes in the previous event.
Consistent stablemate Zakspatrol, raced by the Hattons’, made an impressive Auckland debut in the hands of Kim Butt, racing away for a penalty-free success in the C1-2 Pukekohe Builders Ltd Mobile Pace for junior drivers.
Zakspatrol, a big Art Major gelding from Shimmering Star, was a tentative travelling companion for a Queensland winter campaign, but will also now remain in Auckland for upcoming racing.
The 4YO eased to a three back trailing spot in the early stages, was forced four wide on the home turn, but ran out the 2700m strongly to win by a length and three-quarters from late finisher Flying Loose, and favourite First Home.
Zakspatrol, and Kimberly Butt, too good in the junior drivers pace at Auckland on Friday night.
Zakspatrol ran the mobile 2700m in 3:22.4 (2:00.6 mile rate), the leaders running their last 800m in 57.6s for his sixth win from 46 starts, for $44,604 in earnings.
Kimberly Butt, in just her second season of racedriving, was recording her 17th win of the season and her 31st from 303 career drives.
Kim had also won the junior drivers race at the Franklin meeting at Alexandra Park on June 19 with former Canterbury trotter Barry.
A week earlier she scored with the Ken Barron-trained Bracken Ridge at northern headquarters, and began the month in the north winning with Overport Lodge filly Real Torque at Auckland on June 6.
Mark’s decision to go north with a contingent of winter horses was fruitful last weekend.
He also prepared and drove Pomme Roy to power home for a three lengths win in the C1-2 Thai Night At Alex Park 28th August Mobile Pace in a 1:57.9 rate (2200m).
Rocker Band, with trainer Mark Jones. They scored a penalty-free Cambridge win on Thursday, June 25.
Mark also gained another training and driving win with smart filly Rocker Band at Cambridge on Thursday, June 25, and a third with stablemate Oasis Dream.
“It was a good weekend for stable up here with three wins. They earned 20k for the weekend so it was a good decision to come up here and get money in owners pockets,” he said.
Rocker Band’s win over Joanednobettor at Cambridge in a 1:58.7 rate (2200m), quickening over her last 800m in 56.7s was penalty-free and she will continue to try for 3YO concession wins in the north next month.
Oasis Dream, a gritty third behind Rockn Ruby and Westburn Courage in the C2 and faster pace over 2200m (stand), is likely to have one more start before transferring to Kerryn Manning’s Victorian stable.
Mark’s brace of northern wins has taken him to 59 wins for the season.
He is currently fifth on the trainers premiership, with stable runners just over $6000 short of $600,000 in winning stakes this term.
By Jeff Scott
Saveapatrol, back on track at Auckland on Friday night before a proposed Queensland campaign with stablemate Zakspatrol.
Race 1: LANDORA’S GIRL (10, Mark), UR 1, & KOWHAI MONARCH (11, Blair Orange), UR 3, 2200m std: “If Landora’s Girl steps she is a big winning chance.”
“Also, if Kowhai Monarch does things right he could win.”
Race 2: POMME ROY (4, Mark), mob. 2200m: “Seems well but small field makes it tricky and Zach Maguire drawn one looks hard to beat.”
Race 4: TWICE THE DELIGHT (1, Mark), & REAL TORQUE (4, Blair Orange), mob. 2200m:
“Twice The Delight is drawn to get a good trip and can place.”
“Real Torque is a nice filly who keeps stepping up. This is a step up but could surprise.”
Race 6: ZAKSPATROL (6, Kimberly Butt), mob. 2700m: “On his way to Brisbane and this is a race he can be competitive in.”
Race 7: SAVEAPATROL (8, Blair Orange), 1, 20m, 2700m std: “Seems well. Is on his way to Brisbane, all going well. He hasn’t raced for 15 months but trialled nice and gets in this race good.”
Race 8: SUNOFLINDENNY (5, Mark), UR 2, 10m, 2700m std: “Racing good but this a strong field. Can place.”
Race 7: MARITIME ARDEN (7, Robbie Close), mob. 2200m: “Racing honest but looking for a break.”
Race 6: SOMEARDENSOMEWHERE (8, Robbie Close), mob. 2000m: “Good win last week but this a big step up.”
Race 7: FAIR DINKUM BROMAC (5, Robbie Close), 2600m std: “Gets a start but looking for luck.”
Race 8: REKLAW SUPREME (2, Wayne Higgs), 2600m std: “Is in a tough race so will need luck.”
Race 11: ZENA MAC (5, Wayne Higgs), mob. 2000m: “She got a deserved win last week but this is a step up.”
