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OASIS DREAM DELIVERS FROM OUTSIDE GATE AT AUCKLAND

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones kept the wins coming with his South Auckland-based team when Oasis Dream scored at Alexandra Park on Friday, June 20.

Now with 55 wins for the season, the growing north team will be boosted with the arrivals of Saveapatrol and Zakspatrol for racing at Alexandra Park next Friday.

Melbourne owners, Meg and Merv Butterworth, who race Auckland winner, Oasis Dream.

Oasis Dream had to overcome the outside front row draw in C1-3 Trucks & Tyres Race Night Fri 17 July Mobile Pace at the Franklin Trotting Club’s racenight.

With three scratchings inside him reducing the front row to five, top young northern reinsman Zac Butcher drove the Major In Art gelding postively.

They were in front after the opening 200m and Zac made the most of the free-running style of the half-brother to Le Sol (1:54.3) to hold fellow Cantab, Culinary Delight, by a length.

Oasis Dream paced the mobile 2200m in 2:44.1 (2:00 mile rate), quickening over his last 800m in 57.5s and final 400m in 28.2s.

This was the third win in 18 starts for Oasis Dream, who was secured by the Butterworth Racing Syndicate as a raceplaced maiden out of the Grant Payne stable last August.

He was having his second start back from a six month layoff.

Mark had mixed fortunes with his other starters on Friday night, but Real Torque again raced strongly.

First-up in the C1 grade at her second start, she finished a sound third after being given a good run on the outer by Kim Butt in the C1-2 Powell Transport Mobile Pace.

She was just over a length behind Bettors Pocket (sprint lane), who outfinished front-running favourite Bettormack in a 1:59.9 rate (2200m).

Smart filly Rocker Band was the beaten favourite in the C2-4 pace, locking wheels early in the run home when trying to improve from the rear, while Landora’s Girl again blew the start in the maiden trot.

Landora’s Girl was declared unruly for future stand starts at Mark’s request after missing away for the third consecutive week on her north sojourn at Alexandra Park.

SOMEARDENSOMEWHERE TWO RACES FROM MET BONUS

Someardensomewhere, who appreciated a drop in grade to score for Overport Lodge employee and amateur driver Phil “Prop” Anderson at Addington on June 12, is nearing a $7500 Met Multiplier bonus reward.

“He will race for a few more starts at Addington to get the bonus and then have good break as hasn’t had one in a while,” said trainer Mark Jones.

Someardensomewhere and Phil “Prop” Anderson are too good in the C0-2 amateur drivers pace at Addington on June 12. Photo: Race Images.

“He’ll come back and be better after a break.”

Someardensomewhere, who returned to winning form at his third start since transferring to the Jones stable, was having his 13th start at Addington Raceway over the last 12 months.

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Met Multiplier is paid out for horses who race 15 times within a 12-month rolling period at the Raceway and has been a winner.

Someardensomewhere, who promised much at the outset of his career, setting a NZ 2YO record over 2400m of 2:56.3 (1:58.2 mile rate) at Ashburton late that season for the Mark Purdon’s team, left the Allstars stable in January.

He scored his last win for Purdon and training partner Natalie Rasmussen at Addington in December in a 1:57.9 rate (1950m).

The 4YO Somebeachsomewhere gelding had a stint with Purdon’s former training partner Grant Payne for six starts earlier this year, but after racing below his best, moved to Overport Lodge last month.

Someardensomewhere, good enough to run sixth in Tiger Tara’s Group One Sires’ Stakes 3YO Final at Addington last term, had seen his form taper this year but he relished a dropback to a C0-2 amateur drivers level race last week.

Phil Anderson dropped him back early from the outside front row draw and used his quick speed to round up the leaders at the buiness end.

Phil was recording his second win as an advanced amateur driver this term.

He earlier also had two wins as a junior driver and two wins as  a graduation driver before focussing on training enjoying a strong four years in partnership with Tim Butt before going out on his own again and latterly moving to Overport Lodge.

“Prop works here and has a few of his horses here too so it works out good,” Mark said.

Someardensomewhere zipped home to win going away by 2 1/2 lengths from Scanreco Bay in a 2:02.3 rate (1950m) in the cool conditions.

This was his seventh career win from 35 starts for owners The Beach Syndicate, which was formed by Arden Lodge proprietor John Stiven.

John set up the syndicate to race the horse with friends and family based throughout the South Island.

Someardensomewhere, bred by his late mother Noreen, is a member of the big winning Rosehaven-Black Watch family.

He’s from L’Oiseau De Nuit, an unraced Christian Cullen half-sister to Agios Nikolaos (eight NZ wins, 1:52.2, US) and Black Maire (four wins 1:59.8), the latter the dam of former 2009 NZ 3YO filly of the Year Lauraella (1:55.9, 10 wins & $649,946) and the ill-fated $111,000 winner, The Muskeg Express (1:59.4).

L’Oiseau De Nuit, from two-race winner Corbie (Vance Hanover-Black Watch), has two foals to race for two winners, the other being Billy Jack, which has won twice and been a regular in Canterbury amateur drivers races this season for the David and Catherine Butt stable.

Another unraced daughter of Corbie in Syriana has left another good Allstars winner in Meticulous (1:55.6, nine wins & $101,489).

Maritime Arden, a half-sister by Somebeachsomewhere to Hunter Cup winner Arden Rooney, racing solidly in the lower grades for John and Judy Stiven, and trainer Mark Jones.

The Arden Lodge-Mark Jones connection also resulted in a C1 win with Maritime Arden at Forbury Park on May 29.

Like Someardensomewhere, Maritime Arden is by Somebeachsomewhere (1:46.8 & $3.2 million), a top performing son of Mach Three.

A diminuitive 3YO filly, Maritime Arden is a half-sister to this season’s Hunter Cup winner Arden Rooney (1:54.2, 18 wins & $A597,078), raced by John and Judy Stiven with Mark Jones under his business banner of WDC 03 Limited.

Both Martime Arden and Arden Rooney are also from the Rosehaven-Black Watch family.

They were also bred by the late Noreen Stiven from Tosca Hanover (Walton Hanover-Tosti, by Soky’s Atom-Aberfeldy, by Mark Lobell-Black Watch).

Maritime Arden, who chases another 3YO win at Forbury tonight, has won three and been three times second in 18 starts this term.

She worked to the front after the opening 700m for her win in the Prydes Easifeed Pace last month in then hands of Blair Orange.

Maritime Arden was rewarded in a suitable race, holding by 2 1/2 lengths pacing the 2200m from a stand in a 2:48.3, the last 800m in 58.1s.

By Jeff Scott

SAVEPATROL CONFIRMED FOR AUCKLAND AFTER TRIAL

Class pacer Saveapatrol did everything asked of him in cool conditions on a drying track at the Addington trials on Monday, May 15.

Saveapatrol, with Blair Orange wearing Regan Todd’s colours, hits out strongly in the run home at the Addington trials.

With two Rangiora workouts under his belt in this preparation, the Christian Cullen gelding was given a slightly more searching run, despite having only two rivals for company in the C1 and faster pace.

After trailing three back from his 40m handicap, driver Blair Orange sent him forward in the open at the 600m for a strong final section.

He ran clear of pacemaker True Legend (front), and trailer Florin (20m), turning for home and hit out well in the run home, coming clear by 4 3/4 lengths.

The lightly-raced 5YO paced the 2600m in 3:18.4 (useful 2:02.7 mile rate in the conditions), with the leaders running their last 800m in 57.5s and final 400m in 27.7s.

“Saveapatrol heads north over the weekend and races Auckland on Friday week (June 26),” said trainer Mark Jones.

“We then decide after the race on a Queensland campaign but it looks likely at this stage,” he added.

Saveapatrol, providing he races well at Auckland, could aim for back-to-back Group One features at Albion Park, Brisbane, the $A100,000 Sunshine Sprint on July 4, followed by the $A125,000 Blacks A Fake, on July 18.

The winner of 10 of just 16 starts, Saveapatrol hasn’t raced since his third behind retired champions, Terror To Love and Adore Me, in the Group One 2014 Auckland Cup 15 months ago.

By Jeff Scott

TRIAL NEXT WEEK, THEN AUCKLAND RACE ON JUNE 26

Saveapatrol pleased driver Regan Todd with is second Rangiora workout since coming off a long layoff on Wednesday, June 10.

Last year’s Auckland Cup placegetter was untroubled to come off a 40m handicap to beat Usain Colt (20m) and That’s Hunting Pink (40m) in a 2600m workout.

He paced the 2600m in 3:23.1, the leaders quickening over their last 800m in 56.6s and final 400m in 27.3s.

A week earlier Saveapatrol ran home nicely for a head second to fellow 40m backmarker Cyclone Kiwi first-up in a similar 2600m Rangiora workout.

The winner went 3:21.5 on that occasion after moving up parked over the final 800m with Saveapatrol getting a drag up and not being asked for a serious effort in the run to the line over the last 800m in 58s.

“He will trial next week then race at Auckland on June 26,” said trainer Mark Jones.

“If all goes good he will head to Queensland to race through July.”

Twice The Delight, another in the Mark Jones stable looking to resume at Auckland this month.

Also heading north next week for Auckland racing will be last start Nelson winner Pomme Roy and 3YO filly Twice The Delight, who resumed with a smart run at the Rangiora workouts on Wednesday.

Pomme Roy has a suitable race at Auckland on June 26.

Twice The Delight finished only two lengths from former Hunter Cup winner Choise Achiever in Wednesday’s mobile 2000m heat, won in 2:29.9 (2:00.5 mile rate), with the leaders running their last 800m in 55.9s and final 400m in 26.9s.

The Bettor’s Delight filly was freshened after running sixth to Magic Oats when last racing at Ashburton in a 1:55.5 mile on February 7.

“I have our own barn up here so have 10 to race up here,” Mark said.

Four of the team already based at Pukekohe will race at Alexandra Park on Friday night, namely maiden trotters, Kowhai Monarch and Landora’s Girl, along with Oasis Dream (resuming in a junior drivers race), and intermediate squaregaiter Sunoflindenny.

Last week’s good debut 2YO filly winner Real Torque has been withdrawn from a C1-3 fillies and mares pace and will be reserved for a more suitable race in upcoming weeks.

Mark will also drive at Auckland this week, taking the reins behind Landora’s Girl and Sunoflindenny, while he has also picked up an outside drive behind the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen-trained Vice Consul in the C4-7 handicap over 2700m.

He will also have four racing at Addington on Friday, and possibly three at Oamaru on Sunday.

By Jeff Scott

FRIDAY NELSON AND AUCKLAND WINS FOR STABLE

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones advanced to 52 wins for the season with a winning double on the first day of the Nelson winter meeting, and another at Auckland, on Friday, June 5.

Adding to the day’s success, Woodend Beach stable foreman picked up a deserved win with Sandvik Star at Nelson, and was the caretaker trainer of upset mares mile winner Whyamibettor from Overport starter All Delight.

Pommie Roy, delivered as a dominating favourite on the first day of the Nelson winter meeting for trainer Mark Jones.

Mark scored back-to-back Nelson training wins reining front-running hot favourite Pomme Roy to a comfortable win in the C1 Reefton Trotting Club Mobile Pace.

He has decided not to back up the 3YO Christian Cullen-TK Swift gelding on the second day at Nelson on Sunday.

Pomme Roy held second favourite Mach Denario by a length and a half in a 2:03.9 rate for the mobile 2400m in the slushy conditions, quickening over his last 800m in 58.5s.

After winning his 2YO debut at Addington and showing early promise as a colt, Pomme Roy was gelded after losing form after racing in Auckland as a spring 3YO.

He returned to win first-up at Addington on April 23 and has been in good overall form for this preparation.

Friday’s win was a bonus C1 win for the 3YO, who remains a C1 for his next start. He has now won three of 15 career starts.

in a good sense of occasion, Blair Orange then reined stablemate Zakspatrol to a gritty neck win over the Regan Todd-trained Fleeting Grin in the C1 Mark Jones Racing Stables and Club Waimea-sponsored Pace.

Zakspatrol, who had been knocking on the door of a win in his latest racing, rallied strongly from the third line on the outer to score in 3:10.9 (2400m stand) in the conditions.

The big 4YO Art Major-Shimmering Star gelding gets his chance to step up in the C2 and faster Nelson Pine Industries Nelson Winter Cup on Sunday.

Zakspatrol was returning to the winner’s circle on Friday at his third start since being downgraded last month.

Zakspatrol, furthered his useful record on the first day at Nelson.

He is now the winner of five from 43 starts for $38,232.

Owner Grant Hatton shares in the ownership of both Nelson winners.

He races Zakspatrol with wife Katherine, while he co-races Pomme Roy with Chatsworth Lodge Ltd, Bob Higgins, Bill and Claude Walsh.

Katherine Hatton also races Real Torque, a 2YO Real Desire filly, with daughters, Emma, Gina and Kate.

The girls also enjoyed good success a few years earlier as co-owners of former country cups star My Man Dan.

Real Torque, a half-sister to fast North American winner Statesman (1:50.4, US, nine NZ wins) and other useful types in Monaro (seven NZ wins, 1:58.5) and WA winner Calais (two wins, 1:56, Aust), was a $10,000 Australasian Classic Yearling Sales buy.

She wasn’t hurried out of the gate first-up by Kimberly Butt in the Mitavite Mobile Pace.

Real Torque showed some toughness after being left parked and rallied well to hold Bronze Over by a neck in 2:45.5 (2:01 mile rate) for the mobile 2200m.

The leaders quickened over their last 800m in 58.3s and final 400m in 27.9s.

By Jeff Scott