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SMOKE N SANTANNA PUT DOWN

Connections of promising 2YO pacer Smoke N Santanna were dealt a cruel blow when the colt broke a leg in a paddock accident and could not be saved.

The Santanna Blue Chip-Smoke N Mirrors colt was turned out after his second 2YO Addington win on May 23 with the best intentions.

He was expected to return for the 3YO Sires Stakes series.

“I’m gutted about Smoke N Santana. It only happens to good ones,”  said trainer Mark Jones.

Smoke N Santanna raced only six times for two wins, rating 1:58.4 (1950m) in his last run, quickening over his last 800m in 57.1s.

He also finished a creditable fifth in the $156,400 Garrards Sires Stakes 2YO Final at Addington last month for breeder-owners, Pete, Debbie and Patricia Smith.

He is the second foal and second winner from their good mare Smoke N Mirrors (1:58.9 mile rate, 1950m, 10 wins), with first foal Smoke N Grin winning once from four starts.

Her next foal is a Courage Under Fire yearling filly, while Smoke N MIrrors was served last year by Auckland Reactor (1:51.4, US, 32 wins from 53 starts).

EXPRESSO MARTINI RUNS SMART 2400m AT NELSON

Expresso Martini, who recorded one of the fastest mobile 2400m times by a NZ 2YO pacer in the BMTT Mobile Pace at Nelson on Sunday, June 8, won’t be seen again until the spring.

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones said the Met Eight Syndicate-owned colt had
done enough in five starts in his debut term after Expresso Martini’s fast Nelson run.

Expresso Martini, a 2YO maiden winner at Nelson in a smart 2:57.9 (2400m) on June 8.

Expresso Martini, a Bettor’s Delight half-brother to dual Nelson C0-1 winner Secret Lotion (1:58.9) and 2010 Northern Oaks/Nevele R Fillies Final winner Secret Potion (1:57.5, 10 wins & $265.312), paced the mobile 2400m in 2:57.9 (1:59.3 mile rate).

His run was only 1.3 seconds outside the NZ 2YO colts and geldings mark, set by Someardensomewhere at Ashburton 12 months ago.

Driver Blair Orange made the most of Expresso Martini’s good draw, quickly finding the top and keeping the pace true throughout.

The driver had a winning salute for the trainer and his team, who were positioned 100m after the line.

Expresso Martini, a $34,000 NZ Premier Yearling Sales buy, has the pedigree to develop further.

He’s also a half-brother to (Hesthe) Village Dancer (2:00.4, 10 Aust. wins) four-race NZ winner How Do Mate (1:59.3 m.r., 2000m), three-race NZ winner Yeah Baby (1:57.6, US), and minor NZ winner She’s Got It.

Another half-sister, the lightly-raced First Lady Tingira, had also made her mark as the dam of Arti Lady Tingira (1:55.4), four NSW wins.

Expresso Martini, and his other well-performed siblings, are from the unraced Walton Hanover mare Putting On The Glitz, a half-sister to fast North American miler Silver Lined Pocket (1:50.4, 36 wins world-wide) and Pocket Of Gold (15 Victorian wins).

Awfully Nice (1:59.6), the third dam of Expresso Martini, was a half-sister to former Grand Circuit pacer Defoe (TT, 1:53), All Systems Go (1:51.4, US) and Nothin But A Dreamer (TT, 1:58.9).

The latter, a racewinning In The Pocket mare, gained recent notoreity as the dam of former strong Canterbury pacer Dream Out Loud (by Bettor’s Delight), who won nine from 26 starts in Australasia, and paced a brilliant 1:48.4 to win at Harrahs Chester, Pennsylvania, in North America last week.

MARK HAS SHOULDER INJURY

Meanwhile, trainer Mark Jones, who stood himself down from racedrives on the first day at Nelson with a shoulder complaint, will have it checked out this week.

“Its slowly coming right but I’d better find out whats wrong with it,” he said.

The Expresso Martini win was the 66th for the season for the Jones stable, taking the stable’s seasonal earnings to $722,135.

KIMBERLY SCORES 11TH WIN BEHIND FAIR DINKUM BROMAC

Kimberly Butt

Kimberly Butt’s thoughts were with her late great grand-mother Beryl Butt, who died only hours earlier, after guiding Fair Dinkum Bromac to win at Forbury Park on Thursday night, June 5, 2014.

Beryl Butt, aged 92, and her late husband, former seven-times national training premiership winner and two-time NZ driving premiership winner, Wes Butt, began a strong harness racing family legacy.

Their sons, Murray and Robin, were both successful horsemen.

The former, the late Murray, and wife Jennifer, are the parents of current day top training and driving partnership team, Tim and Anthony Butt, while another son Roddy, also had success training and driving both in NZ and in Australia.

Anthony, and wife Karen, are the parents of Kimberly, and her brother Chris (former Perth based trainer-driver, now enjoying an O.E. in Europe).

Employed by Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, Kimberly scored her 11th win in her first term of racedriving with Fair Dinkum Bromac, who settled last of the six-horse field but fought tenaciously to wear down Memorable in the C2-3 Dunedin Holiday Park Special Handicap Pace.

They scored by half a length in 3:27.5 for the stand start 2700m, the leaders running their last 800m in 58.3s.

Kimberly opened her racedriving account when scoring with top pacer Saveapatrol at Forbury eight months ago, on October 3.

Meanwhile, Craig Ferguson, who returned for a third consecutive year for a winter stint with the Jones Overport Lodge stables last week, was also in form at Forbury.

Craig notched his first winning treble on a single programme, including winning the night’s feature pace, the C3-7 Pryde’s Easifeed Mobile Pace with capable mare Better To Be Bad, in a strong 1:58.3 rate (2200m).

SMOKE N SANTANNA ENDS 2YO RACING ON HIGH

Smoke N Santanna, untroubled to justify his $1.70 favouritism in the C1 French Bakery Mobile Pace at Addington on Friday, May 23, ended his two-year-old racing on a high.

The promising Santanna Blue Chip colt from good racemare Smoke N Mirrors promises to come back better next term.

Smoke N Santanna, wrapped up his 2YO racing with a win at Addington on Friday, May 23.

“Its been quite good with the owners (Pete, Debbie and Patricia Smith), who have turned down good money for him,” said trainer Mark Jones.

“He could go next week again but will have six weeks out,” he said.

Smoke N Santanna notched his second two-year-old win from six starts, earning
$15,225, but with handicapping concessions returns to maiden status next term.

“I might look at taking him to Auckland for a maiden. He might qualify for the 3YO Sires Stakes too,” Mark said.

Smoke N Santanna wasn’t disgraced, finishing fifth in Hug The Wind’s $156,400 Garrards Sires Stakes 2YO Final at Addington at his second-to-last start.

Hug The Wind rated a slick 1:56.8 for the mobile 1950m, with Smoke N Santanna pacing 2:22.1 (1:57.2 mile rate) finishing 2.6 lengths from the winner.

Smoke N Santanna relished a return to grade racing when wrapping up his juvenile racing.

He led from the three gate for driver Ricky May, winning untested by 2 1/4 lengths in 2:23.5 (1:58.4 mile rate), quickening over his last 800m in 57.1s and his closing 400m in 28.4s.

The win edged earnings for the Overport Lodge stable over $700,000 for the season.

Remiss, brought up the 64th training win of the term for trainer Mark Jones at Addington on Sunday, May 25.

The Mark Jones stable moved to 64 wins for the term, for earning of $705,147, when stablemates Remiss (first) and Cavallo Volante (third), resumed from layoffs in a C0 pace at the Banks Peninsula meeting at Addington on Sunday, May 25.

Live Or Die 4YO mare Remiss made the most of her front row draw in the Burnside Contractors Ltd Mobile Pace.

Once fully balanced after the opening 200m, she sped to the front for driver Blair Orange, then trailed Rise And Shine from the 1200m.

Remiss was much too good with a sprint lane finish, winning without being extended by 1 3/4 lengths from Lavros Cash and Cavallo Volante (wide).

Previously twice placed from eight starts, she rated 2:01.2 for the 1950m, the leaders running their last 800m in 59.9s.