EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR UPCOMING SALES WELCOMED
Group One-winning Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has identified yearlings for purchase at the upcoming NZ Yearling Sales and is seeking expressions of interest for owners to join the stable.
“We’ll be buying at the sales so new owners are welcome,” Mark said.
Overport Lodge trainer, Mark Jones, ready to buy at the yearling sales.
The yearlings will be developed with the prospect of making a profit for his owners over the next 12-18 months.
Mark has a history of selling quality horses, such as smart filly/mare Rocker Band (1:53.5, seven wins from 19 starts for $66,472), who he sold unraced to good Queensland stable client Greg Brodie.
Last July, he on-sold Cruz Bromac, who has been a revelation in his Australian racing for Victorian trainer Dean Braun.
Selected by Mark at the NZ Yearling Sales for $12,000, Cruz Bromac was given time .
Despite leaving a cold Canterbury winter unraced, Cruz Bromac paced 1:51.6 (1609m) at just his third start at Menangle last August for the Braun stable.
The Falcon Seelster-Crown Defender gelding has now won six of 12 starts for $62,815.
The Braun stable was also the beneficiary after purchasing former Overport Lodge filly Itz Nosurprisesthere.
Itznosurprisesthere was on-sold to Australia to maximise her earning potential after being born in the same season as champion Adore Me, who after dominating the 3YO fillies races that term, went on to win the 2014 NZ Cup winner and paced a 1:47.7 mile at Menangle.
Itznosurprisesthere made her mark in Australia, winning the NSW Oaks, the Tasmanian Oaks and the Queensland Oaks. She won six of just 15 starts for $A216,900.
Itz Bettor To Win, shown trialling as a 2YO for the Mark Jones stable. After being sold, he has been a $100,000 winner for the Mark Purdon/Nat Rasmussen stable.
Close relative Itz Bettor To Win sold unraced out of the Mark Jones stable after showing 2YO promise.
He won the Group Three Alabar NZ Kindergarten Stakes at two first-up for the Allstars Stable in 1:54.3.
Itz Bettor To Win has won eight of 18 NZ starts for $128,548.
Another from the family, Itz Billy Hillis, was also sold unraced out of the Mark Jones stable and has won his first two 3YO starts in Victoria, taking a 1:56.7 mile rate mark over 1670m.
Others to be sold out of Mark’s stable to have made an impact across the Tasman include: (Glenferrie) Alexis (1:55.9, 19 wins & $288,323); Jackaroo Bromac (1:54, 18 wins & $A145,944; My Jellignite (1:52.4, 21 wins & $A212,569; Badjellys Courage (1:56, 13 wins & $A57,155); Courage Tells (1:54.8, 25 wins & $A170,003); Offtocullect (1:57.7, eight wins & $45,269); Lethal Rocket (1:55.5, 15 wins & $236,417); Jackaroozy (1:56.1, 16 wins & $A112,759); and My Man Dan (1:54.2, 32 wins & $A207,220).
Former smart Kiwi pacer Ohoka Texas and quiet achiever San Fran Lady, have been a couple of many ex-Overport Lodge pacers to make their mark in the United States.
Ohoka Texas, winner of 12 races in NZ including a Group Two Pelorus Trust 4YO Classic and a Group Three Invercargill Cup for Mark Jones, has lowered his career best to 1:50.2 in America.
He’s won a further eight races and over $121,000 in the United States, with his career earnings closing in on $300,000.
Champagne Dreams, a half-sister to Lazarus (p2, 1:52.9), who was sold out of the Mark Jones stable last year.
San Fran Lady, bred by Frances and Max Bowden, won three of 16 NZ starts for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones, before being sold to race Australia, and latterly North America.
She won 15 times in Australia, paced 1:53 there and won the Group Three $30,00 Sky Super Sprint Final at Newcastle, in November 2010.
Six years on, San Fran Lady is still winning.
She racked up her 30th career win from 102 starts with her latest win at Delaware, Ohio, on January 31, taking her earnings over the equivalent of $NZ233,000.
She has lowered her lifetime mile best to 1:52 in North America.
Her half-brothers, Union Buster and Princeton, also become good Australian winner after being sold to Australian interests from humble beginnings in Canterbury.
Last season, Champagne Dreams, the Art Major year older half-sister to outstanding 2 and 3YO colt Lazarus (p2, 1:52.9, 12 wins and two placings from 14 starts for over $600,000), was sold to Australian interests.
She won just once in NZ but was a raceplaced NZ 3YO filly over a mile in 1:55.9.
Champagne Dreams has taken a 1:56.5 record across the Tasman, winning her first two Queensland starts.