PRINCETON DELIVERS RANGIORA WIN
The Mark Jones stable moved to just under $300,000 in winnings for the season from 39 wins when Princeton delivered for his supporters at Rangiora on Sunday, April 29.
Given a good run in behind the leaders, the 4YO Bettor’s Delight-Emcil gelding stormed home when in the clear for Mark to win going away by three-quarters of a length.
The effort capped a solid but luckless form-line in his latest racing.
Princeton paced the 2000m (stand) in 2:36.2, the leaders quickening over their last 800m in 57.6s and final 400m in a sizzling 26.6s.
He was notching his third career win (second penalty-bearing) from 14 starts for owners Frances and Max Bowden, and Max’s son Lyndon.
Hawthornden and Got The Nod, both handy throughout, fought out the minor placings, ahead of Fat Prophet, who moved up parked.
Princeton’s stablemate Lively Eastburn settled back from a second row barrier and was unable to make up ground in such a fast run home.
SUERTE WINS RANGIORA WORKOUT
Suerte, owned by Victoria’s Merv and Meg Butterworth, moved a step closer to a winter race resumption for trainer Mark Jones at the Rangiora workouts on Wednesday, May 2.
The 4YO Falcon Seelster gelding was spelled after running fifth to Pembrook’s Delight in his first start for the Overport Lodge stable at Forbury on January 26.
He had previously won once from six starts for former Invercargill trainer Mark Shirley.
Suerte stepped quickly from the stand start in Wednesday’s one win and faster pace, leading at the end of the opening 200m.
He was strong in front for the remainder of the workout, holding a solid finish from six-win assessed pacer Lionel’s Meddle by a length. Mr Murdoch and Floyd Mayweather finished next.
Suerte paced the 2600m in a sound 3:27, quickening over his last 800m in 58s and closing 400m in 28.8s.
Stablemate, the unraced Bevan Gray (Regan Todd), a 4YO Live Or Die gelding, made ground late for fourth behind winner Limitation (Brent Borcoskie) over the leaders last 800m in 57.8s in a non-win pace.
Limitation held over the 2600m (stand) in 3:32.5.
Mark reined The Lutts, who moved up sharply at the 600m but blew out in the run home to finish fifth of the six starters.
Alex (Regan) was back on the inner mostly in his 1-win or faster mobile pace over 2000m and made ground late in a heat won by the Robert Dunn-trained Brooke Brad Carolina (Tim Williams) from Makah Warrior.
Brooke Brad Carolina returned 2:31.5 for the distance, the leaders running their last 800m in 58.2s and closing 400m in 28.6s.
Glenferrie Sunbird, a 2YO Love You filly, was unplaced when she stepped out in an unqualified trot heat.
RED WEST SOLD TO WA
Promising unraced juvenile pacer Red West was sold out of the Mark Jones stable earlier this week to race in west Australia.
The Christian Cullen colt is a brother to the well-performed 3YO colt Raging Bull (1:56.6 mile rate 1950m, four wins and four seconds from eight starts), and half-brother to the now retired smart racemare san Rafaella (1:54.8, seven wins from 14 starts).
Red West, purchased at last year’s NZ Premier Yearling Sale for $55,000, qualified running fourth in 2:01.6 in a 1609m trial at Ashburton on April 9, won by stablemate Alexy.