A last placing in the middle leg of the inaugural Albion Park drivers series on Saturday ultimately cost Overport Lodge horseman Mark Jones the title. The former world drivers champ finished just two points behind Queensand’s Bart Cockburn.
Mark began the series on a high, landing the drive behind talented 3YO colt Caesar Augustus in the first Seymour Group Invitation Drivers Championship Heat.
The $3.30 favourite overcame a second row barrier, moving up parked and proving too strong in a $A11,000 MO pace, rating 1:58.4 (2138m).
The colt was second-up after a let-up, having been freshened again after running second to Bebrave in a Australasian Breeders Crown Heat at Menangle on July 16.
Caesar Augustus had been a NSW Sapling Stakes winner at two, and winner of the Group Three Simpson Sprint at Menangle in January. He ran third in the Victoria Derby, and fifths in both the NSW and WA Derbys.
Mark was left parked with outsider Mister Manhattan in the second heat, but the horse tired to finish last, costing him the series.
He bounced back with a second on Demolition Dave in the third heat, but Cockburn’s better overall consistency had him in front.
Cockburn ran second in the first heat, finished fifth in the second, and ran third in the third heat with Navajo Rocky.
Fellow Queenslander Peter McMullen, finished the series with a flurry, taking out the third heat with One Eyed Terror, to finish third overall.
Mark’s fellow Cantab and countryman Blair Orange ran third in the second heat with ex-Southlander Davey J, but had to settle for a seventh and an eighth in the other heat, missing out of a prominent placing.
Outside of the drivers series races, which were done and dusted after the opening three races, Mark checked out former stable runner (My) Jellignite, driving him to finish fourth in the M1-2 $A16,000 End Of Season Championship Final.
Victory went to fellow former Cantab Alberto Contador, who furthered his top form for the Grant Dixon stable.
Alberto Contador, a $2.20 favourite, made the most of a good run handy on the outer to win in a 1:56.7 rate for the mobile 2138m.
The Bettor’s Delight-Princess Alberta gelding extended his Queensland record to nine wins from 11 starts, taking his career earnings to around $A200,000.