Juvenile pacer Major Sam, who rallied strongly to wear down the leaders first-up at Addington on Friday, will head to the spelling paddock for six weeks, providing he’s not sold to Victorian interests.
‘OLLIE’ WINS SERIES FINAL
Electric Ollie was rewarded for a strong run of spring form, taking out the $10,400 Metalcorp NZ Ltd Young At Heart Series Final at Addington on Friday, September 6, in the presence of Melbourne owners, Merv and Meg Butterworth.
“It was good they were here to see him,” said trainer Mark Jones.
A FAIR DINKUM VICTORY
Fair Dinkum Bromac, given the run of the race in the trail by Blair Orange, turned his form around with his first win for 11 months at Oamaru on Sunday, September 15.
He rallied strongly to hold favourite Cam Before The Storm by two lengths in the Fat Sally’s Bar & Grill Handicap Pace, pacing the 2600m in a smart 3:17 for the 2-3 win grade, the leaders running their last 800m in 57.6s.
OLLIE LEAVES ON HIGH
Electric Ollie bowed out of NZ on a high in the hands of catch driver Natalie Rasmussen at the Northern Southland meeting at Invercargill on Friday, September 27.
“He was well driven,” said trainer Mark Jones.
The horse left Overport Lodge to join Kerryn MannIng’s Victorian stable this week.
Electric Ollie, who will continue to race in Victoria for Melbourne owners Meg and Merv Butterworth, furthered the fast start to the season for trainer Mark Jones with his 10th win for the new term. The 6YO Washington VC gelding was well-placed to take out the 3-5 wins Panspacificflight@Macca Lodge Mobile Pace. He furthered his good NZ formline, justifying a $1.60 win quote.
KIMBERLY SALUTES
To be a successful harness driver, you need to be able to sum up a race and make things happen.
Kimberly Butt did just that at her sixth racedrive at Forbury Park on Thursday, October 3, 2013.
Courtesy of a plum drive behind Saveapatrol, a rising star for employer Mark Jones, in the Dunedin City Ford Junior Drivers Mobile Pace, Kimberly didn’t panic when beaten out of the gate on the raging $1.20 favourite.
She had to be confident the Grant Hatton-owned Christian Cullen gelding would have a class edge on her rivals and the promising 4YO was up to the task.
After taking control with 1100m remaining, it was a case of being too big, too strong. She celebrated the occasion with a victory salute on the line.
Saveapatrol was inclined to knock off a touch near the finish but the winning result was a comfortable 2 1/4 lengths margin over Rock Of Tara.
The pacer was first-up since an unplaced run in the NZ Derby at Addington on April 5, but showed his superiority, rating 1:59.7 for the mobile 2200m _ the last 800m in 59.8s and closing 400m in 30s.
Kimberly, 19, daughter of leading Group One reinsman Anthony, and Karen Butt (daughter of former Chertsey/Ashburton trainer Dick Prendergast), has the pedigree of a winner.
Her brother Chris has been successful as both a driver and now a trainer in West Australia, while her uncle Tim has trained the winners of most of the elite races in Australasia.
Kimberly’s late grand-father Murray Butt (son of the late multiple premierships winner Wes), was also a successful trainer-driver, as was Murray’s brother Robin, father of Woodend co-trainer-driver David Butt.
Jenny Butt, Kimberly’s grandmother, is a daughter of the legendary trainer-driver Derek Jones, while Jenny’s brother Peter Jones, a former top junior and winner of two New Zealand Cups, is the father of former record-breaking junior and world driving champion Mark Jones.
Kimberly joined Mark’s Overport Lodge team in June after transferring from Mark Purdon’s Allstars stable at Rolleston.
MARK/LAVROS TOO GOOD FRESH
Master Lavros resumed from a layoff with a slick first-up win at Addington on Friday, October 4. The warm $2 favourite stepped straight to the front and was always in control for Mark, coming clear by 2 1/2 lengths to beat trailer Live The Dream and later closer Escapee.
MASTER LAVROS SET FOR DOMINION
Trainer Mark Jones was pleased with the game fourth by Master Lavros in the Calvglass Imports Limted FFA Trot at Kaikoura on Monday, November 4, and he remains on song for the $200,000 Hellers Dominion Trot on Show Day. Friday, November 15.
“I thought I might have got the lead (from Stent) but he went well. He kept going,” Mark said.
Stent refused to hand the front to Master Lavros when challenged after the opening 400m, but both favourites had to settle for the minors, with Rowe Cup placegetter Boizel charging home from three back on the markers to take the victory.
Boizel, a 7YO Dream Vacation gelding in the Tony Grayling stable, won going away by 3/4 of a length from Stent in a smart 3:01 for the stand start 2400m.
Cyclone U Bolt fought solidly from the trail for third, with Master Lavros next, finishing just over four lengths from the winner.
“I could have put him in the Trotting Free-For-All on Tuesday, but I decided to stick to my plan all along and just keep him to the stand start,” Mark said.
Master Lavros, back in the draw for the the Kaikoura trot, continued to step well.
Master Lavros and Mark Jones have the $25,000 Dr Cliff Irvine Memorial Canterbury Park Trotting Cup all sewn up.
Preceeding Kaikoura, the big Sundon gelding his biggest win to date for owner Kypros Kotzikas in the Group Three $25,000 Dr Cliff Irvine Memorial Canterbury Park Trotting Cup at Addington on October 11.Master Lavros cruised clear in the run home to beat trailer Burano by four lengths, with outsider King Of Strathfield running on late to grab third ahead of The Fiery Ginga and Stig.
He racked up his 10th win from 18 starts in the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup.
The win held special significance for Mark as the late Dr Cliff and his family have had a good association with the Jones family.
Mark’s father Peter reined Dr Cliff’s former top mare Tussle to many of her 38 wins for $562,175 in earnings, including the 1985 Rowe Cup, 1986 Dominion Handicap and 1987 Interdominion Trotting Grand Final.
Peter also reined her to two Canterbury Park Trotting Cup victories.
Mark has continued to sport the late Dr Cliff’s racing colours as the driver this term of Mamselle, a grand-daughter of Tussle, trained for the Irvine family by Peter and Leonie Jones.
Mark reined Mamselle to win the feature fillies and mare trot at Methven on October 6, and again to win the 3-5 win trot at Ashburton on October 28 in a solid 4:11.3 for the 3200m.
Saveapatrol Shows Class
Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones achieved his NZ Cup day training mission when promising 4YO Saveapatrol ran a staggering 3:09 over the mobile 2600m to win the C3 Avon City Ford Mobile Pace.Read More
HRNZ to ban all anabolic steroids
Following recent decisions by the Australian Racing Board and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, the Board of Harness Racing New Zealand has approved a ban on the use of anabolic steroids for horses both in and out of competition.
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Addington Cup day charity promo
CHRISTCHURCH CASINO NZ TROTTING CUP DAY
Addington, in conjunction with Ronald McDonald House South Island, will be undertaking a charitable ‘Pin and Win’ promotion leading up to and on Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup Day, Tuesday 12 November.
The promotion is supported by the Christchurch Casino and Air New Zealand. Punters simply purchase a 2013 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup Pin for $5 to enter themselves in the draw to win an Air New Zealand Travel voucher to the value of $4,500.