Plutonium Lady lively

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PLUTONIUM LADY, BURNHAM BOY WIN AT GORE, SAM SCORES 400TH WIN

Burnham trainer Mark Jones has always been a fan of Southern Harness racing. He loves to head south to set up his three-year-olds for both the Southern Supremacy Stakes and the Southland Oaks later in the season.

In consecutive races at Gore (Saturday, October 12, 2019) he produced a couple of those age group pacers that look capable of featuring in both those finals at Ascot Park in April.

Plutonium Lady and Sam Ottley, looking good at Gore. (Bruce Stewart photo).

Plutonium Lady easily won the $15,000 Ladyship Final beating hot favourite Need You Now by six lengths after leading and clearing out at the top of the straight.

The winning time of 2-43.2 was impressive, in the cold easterly conditions.

“She’s still got a lot to learn but a typical Bettor’s on race day when she becomes a racehorse,” Jones said.

Plutonium Lady had won two races ago at Winton and is now the early season leader on the Southland Oaks leader board.

Plutonium Lady, and driver Sam Ottley, are joined by winning co-owners, Grant and Katherine Hatton, after her impressive Gore win. (Bruce Stewart photo).

“She might have one more go at the Sires Stakes Heat at Addington.”

“We won’t take her to Auckland. We’ll just target the filly’s races down here and she may go to the New South Wales Oaks in February. Late in the season will be the Nevele R and New Zealand Oaks and the Southland Oaks. She’ll be a better filly later on so if we look after her now it’ll work out good.”

Plutonium Lady is owned by Sir Loins Limited and Starmark Limited which consists of Grant Hatton, Michael Jones and Jim Haines.

“It looks as though we picked the right one out at the sales.”

In the next race Burnham Boy was posted three wide from the start with driver Sam Ottley having to let him drift back to the rear. With just over a lap to run she took the Bettor’s Delight gelding three wide to improve round the field and sat parked from the 800m.

Burnham Boy (Sam Ottley) wins first-up at Gore debut for the Mark Jones stable. (Bruce Stewart photo).

Just before turning in,Ottley pulled the ear plugs and soon took the lead from pacemaker Fireforefiddle,and typical of the Bettor’s Delight breed, Burnham Boy fought bravely to beat Targaryen by a length and a quarter.

In the last race of the day Ottley reined Ideal Draw to win. It was the driver’s 400th winner.

Courtesy of Bruce Stewart, Southland Harness Racing, (www.southernharness.co.nz)