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AUCKLAND CUP BID FOR INVERCARGILL HERO ?

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, and owner Grant Hatton, will remain with their original plan of bypassing the Chariots Of Fire at Menangle on March 2 with top 4YO pacer Saveapatrol.

They reviewed options after Saveapatrol made the most of a gun drive from Blair Orange to upset triple NZ Cup champion Terror To Love in the $40,000 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup on Sunday, January 26.

Saveapatrol, defeated triple NZ Cup champiion Terror To Love, in Sunday’s $40,000 Invercargill Cup.

However, there are enough suitable races in NZ for the time being for the Christian Cullen-Rondel Franco gelding.

With no automatic entry to the $A200,000 feature and the prospect of a hugely talented field across the Tasman, Saveapatrol will try his luck at Auckland instead.

“We will go to Auckland for a race on February 28 and maybe the Auckland Cup, all going well,” Mark said.

The $250,00 Trillian Trust Auckland Cup is run at Alexandra Park on March 7.

Saveapatrol is then likely to target the $100,000 Transpacific Tayor Mile at Auckland on May 2, followed by the $100,000 Dawson Hardford & Partners NZ Messenger on May 9.

Both the Taylor Mile and NZ Messenger have remained open to both 4 & 5YOs after changing their status last term.

Saveapatrol confirmed his ranking as a burgeoning talent on the open class scene when he finished off in style to claim the Group Three Invercargill Cup in a smart 4:03 (2:02.1 mile rate) for the 3200m.

He showed he can hold his own with the best when finishing off from the trail over the leaders last 800m in 55.4s, and final 400m in a sizzling 26.8s, at the end of the extreme trip.

While Terror To Love gave him 30m start and went 2.4 seconds quicker overall for the full 3200m, there was little between the two over the last mile with Terror To Love having the run run on the outer.

However, Saveapatrol responded in style when Blair asked him to lift with 100m to run along the sprint lane. He kicked to grab a half-neck minor upset win over the hot favourite and more experienced “Terror”.

Saveapatrol, who remained unbeaten in six Southland starts, extended his impressive career record to 13 starts for 10 wins and a second for $109,553 in stakes.

He credited trainer Mark Jones with his second Invercargill Cup training win in the last three years, having won the 2012 Invercargill Cup with Ohoka Texas.

Mark also reined Scorching to win the 2005 Invercargill when he was formerly attached to the Cran Dalgety stable.

By Jeff Scott

MAJOR SAM WINS THIRD GRADUATION FINAL

Former Overport Lodge pacer Major Sam notched took his fourth win in his last five Queensland starts when he won the $A20,000 Rising Stars C1-2 Final at Albion Park, Brisbane, on Saturday, January 18, 2014.

Major Sam (3c Major In Art-Precocious Arden) earlier won a similar $20,000 Rising Stars C0 Final at Albion Park on December 28 and a $20,000 Dash For Cash C1 Final at Albion Park on January 11, for trainer-driver Darrel Graham.

Major Sam, shown in the colours of breeders Frances and Max Bowden. The Major In Art colt continues to race well in Queensland.

Each final has been worth $A12,000 to the winner, taking Major Sam’s Australian earnings to $47,120 and his lifetime tally to $61,646.

He paced a career best 1:54.7 for the 1660m when taking out the Dash For Cash C1 Final on January 11.

Major Sam, bred and formerly raced in Canterbury by Frances and Max Bowden, has extended his short career record to 16 starts for seven wins and five placings.

He won three of six starts for the Mark Jones stable, including a debut Addington win as a 2YO in June, and a heat of the Flashing Red C1 Graduation Seriest at Rangiora on November 7 in a 1:58 rate (2000m) over eventual series winner Pacquiao.

Meanwhie, fellow ex-Mark Jones stable pacer Offtocullect furthered his good West Australian form at Pinjarra on Monday.

The 3YO Gotta Go Cullect-Shazza’s Dream colt overcame a back row draw to score as a $1.50 favourite in a C2 pace over 2185m, raing 1:58.8, for the Greg Bond stable.

Offtocullect has only been beaten once in four West Australian starts, taking his career record to seven wins from nine starts for $37,420 in stakes.

MASTER LAVROS TAKES IN MOBILE WORKOUT

Top squaregaiter Master Lavros resumed with a win against the maiden pacers at the Rangiora workouts on Saturday, January 19, in preparation for the $25,000 Seelite Windows & Doors Summer Trotting Free-For-All (1950m) at Addington on January 31.

“He still needs a bit of practise behind the mobile gate so thats why he’s here,” said trainer Mark Jones.

Master Lavros travels strongly with a lap to run at the Rangiora workouts for trainer Mark Jones.

Mark didn’t hurry the Dominion Handicap winner off the gate at the workouts, settling third, then moving up in the open at the 600m.

He was too good in the run home, striding clear by three-quarters of a length over A Boy Named Rosie in 2:35.2 for the mobile 2000m.

Mark timed him over his last 800m in around 56s and his final 400m in 26.9s.

“He went pretty good. He’s still a year away but you’ve got keep lining up and get better trotting from the gate.”

“I’d be keen to take him over for the Glenferrie Challenge ($A200,000, Menangle, NSW on March 2) but he hasn’t been invited yet.”

“If we get invited there, then we’ll think about Melbourne,” he said.

Mark also reined the Andrew Stuart-trained Stagger Lee to a front-running win in the 2YO colts and geldings pace over 2000m in 2:36.3.

The Major In Art-Lets Go Cullen colt was untroubled to quicken over his last 800m in 57.9s and final 400m in 28.1s, holding trailer Tenacious Bromac by half a neck.

SAVEAPATROL TAKING ON “TERROR”

Meanwhile Mark’s top 4YO Saveapatrol is confirmed to take on triple NZ Cup winner Terror To Love in next Saturday’s $40,000 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup.

“He’ll definitely go south. You can’t be scared of them and you’ve got to race,” Mark said.

“There’s still pay for running in the first four. He’s going to have to step up but you can’t hide them all the time. Its good money and if you run second or third or to him (Terror To Love) you’re going to be happy.”

“I’d rather race for the good money and I’ve tried to run him in the right races so far.”

Mark was again pleased with the way Saveapatrol found the line when taking out the Marlborough Cup.

“He was probably a run short the first day but you can’t have them right all the time,” he said.

By Jeff Scott

SAVEAPATROL’S MARLBOROUGH CUP . . . INVERCARGILL NEXT

Five wins at the two-day Marlborough Harness Racing’s summer meet, including victory in the $16,600 Percy Haack Memorial Marlborough Cup with stable pacing star Saveapatrol on the second day, has elevated the Mark Jones stable to 38 training wins for the term.

The meeting was dominated by Woodend Beach-utlised trainers with Mark’s team showing the benefits of the seaside training option under the direction of right-hand man Regan Todd.

Saveapatrol, with Blair Orange back in the bike, were too good again in the Percy Haack Memorial Marlborough Cup.

Saveapatrol, a luckless fourth in Friday’s $40,000 Pelorus Trust 4YO Classic, after being forced to move up parked outside pacemaking winner Franco Nelson, showed his class on Sunday, January 12, 2013.

The Christian Cullen gelding ended the Top of the South-winning spree by Donegal’s Guest, holding out the fellow 20m marker by 1 1/4 lengths in the  3200m cup.

Saveapatrol strolled to the top mid-race for Blair Orange and although Donegal’s Guest moved up to dispute the pace over a strong final 1000m, the former with the inside running, proved too strong.

He paced the 3200m at Blenheim in 4:05.4 (2:03.3 mile rate), quickening over his last 800m in 56.5s.

Mark has bypassed the quick turnaround for Thursday’s $50,000 Yaldhurst Hotel Northern Southland Cup (2700m), but intends to start him in the $40,000 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup (3200m) on January 25.

Saveapatrol stretched his impressive overall record to nine wins from 12 starts, taking his earnings to $84,553 for owner Grant Hatton.

Smart Caesar, raced by Neil and Alan Edge, confirmed his potential with a strong winning double at Waterlea.

The 4YO gelded son of Julius Caesar and speedy mare Cyclone Lady (six wins) backed up well on the second day, moving up parked and finishing off in style in the More FM Mobile Pace.

Smart Caesar scored with authority by two lengths from Maskika, and favourite New Deal, who was outfinished in the run home.

He rated a quick 1:57.9 for the mobile 2300m, the leaders quickening over their last 800m in 56.5s.

“He’s a pretty nice horse in the making,” Mark said.

“He will head to a junior race in two weeks, then the maiden final at the end of the month.”

Mark also trained Rock Till You Drop (3c McArdle-Joyrock), the younger half-brother to former NZ FFA winner Waipawa Lad (1:52.2, US) to win on Sunday.

Rock Till You Drop, raced by Carl and Wendy Nordqvist, improved on a first day third. He was too strong for long-time maiden Shamrocks Boy in a 2:00.8 rate for the 2300m, the last 800m in 58.5s.

The Jones stable also picked up seconds on Sunday with Goodness Gracious Me, who was pipped late by trailer Murphy Brown in the $15,000 Nevele R Stud 3YO Fillies Heat in 1:57.9 (mile), and Strike On Command, who was a strong-finishing second to Red Hot Toddy in a C1 pace.

Besides Smart Caesar, Mark’s other first day winners was Sunoflindenny, who made the most of a quick start to lead up and post a track record 2:58.8 for the stand start 2300m in the Hirepool Discretionary Trot.

The 4YO Sundon gelding was always in control, although Gin Rummy finished stoutly to get within a length of him at the line. He rated 2:05 for the stand start distance, quickening over his last 800m in 58.8s.

Sunoflindenny’s overall 2:58.8 was 0.4 of a second inside the previous track mark, set by The Tin Man at Waterlea in 2008.

The Butterworth Racing Syndicate-owned squaregaiter mixed his gait early on the second day, but made ground to finish sixth behind impressive winner Sheemon.