PRINCETON SOLD TO WEST AUSTRALIAN INTERESTS
Last-start Rangiora winner Princeton is to do his future racing in West Australia.
The Bettor’s Delight gelding is to join the stables of Greg and Skye Bond after being sold by former owners, Max, Frances and Lyndon Bowden.
He raced 24 times for the Jones stable for four wins, seven placings, and $28,156 in stakes.
Princeton provided co-owners Max and Frances Bowden with a change of luck when he regained winning form in the 2-wins Sefton Mobile Pace at Rangiora on Sunday, July 1.
Max added the win was satisfying as the horse had been trialled a few times by would-be buyers but has continued to race strongly.
Princeton, a 4YO Bettor’s Delight gelding, had preceeded Sunday’s win with a strong-finishing second to Bettor’s Fire in the Timaru Winter Cup, seven days earlier.
Burnham trainer-driver Mark Jones eased Princeton back early in the final event on Sunday, but was able to get on the three-wide train beginning the final lap.
Mark improved Princeton three wide outside Formidable and Ginger Spice at the 600m and kept up a sustained run to hold by three-quarters of a length from
Princeton rated 2:00.6 for the mobile 2000m, the leaders running the final 800m in 57.5s and final 400m in 27.9s.
By coincidence, Princeton’s half-brother, Union Buster recorded his only NZ win at the same winter Rangiora meeting two years ago.
Rangiora has been a lucky track for the progeny of Princeton’s dam Emcil.
Another half-sister, San Fran Lady, was also a Rangiora winner, recording the first of her three NZ wins at the North Canterbury track.
Princeton’s latest win credited Mark Jones with his 51st training success for the season, but race numbers will be light in coming weeks.
Many out of the stable have been sold or exported to Australia in recent months, with OK Courage continuing his good form for the Peter Russo stable with a third to Washakie and Vegas Bound in a $A14,000 pace at Albion Park, Brisbane, in late July.
Ex-Overport Lodge juvenile Glenferrie Rustler (Lis Mara-Exceptional Lass gelding) justified his favouritism with an easy win over 1800m (2:01.9 rate) in a $A7000 pace at Globe Derby Park, Adelaide, on the same night.