READY FOR TAKEOFF MAKES AMENDS
Ready For Takeoff, unable to pick up the leaders on the first day at Nelson, made amends after a fast start from a wide front row draw in the C1 BMTT Handicap Pace at Nelson on Sunday, January 5, 2014.
The 4YO Jereme’s Jet gelding was the second winner at the two-day meeting for the Mark Jones stable, driver Blair Orange, and owners, the Butterworth Racing Syndicate, after Superior Desire scored for the same connections on the first day.
Ready For Takeoff, scored an easy front-running win for regular driver Blair Orange at Nelson on Sunday.
This advanced the Jones training tally to 33 wins for the term. He continues to trail the Allstars stable of Mark Purdon and Nat Rasmussen (56 wins) and the Robert Dunn stable (43 wins), in third place on the this season’s trainers premiership.
Ready For Takeoff pressed to the front past Little Mo into the first turn on Sunday.
He left his rivals flat-footed when he sprinted turning for home and although inclined to knock off over the final 50 metres, held by 1 1/2 lengths from first-day winner Massimo (parked over the final 800m).
He paced the 2400m (stand) in 3:04.3 (2:03.5 mile rate), quickening over his last 800m in 58.8s and easing off a touch over his final 400m in 31.1s.
Ready For Takeoff, purchased out of Clark Barron’s south stable after qualifying as a spring 3YO, continues to make steady progress under the direction of Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones.
Sunday’s win was his third from 15 starts, taking his earnings to just under $20,000 for the Butterworth Syndicate.
Superior Desire, who backed up his first day C1 win with a third, after trailing easy front-running favourite Crackaheiny in the C2 race on Sunday,
was another purchased by the Butterworths out of Southland.
He had been unlucky and winless in 10 starts before being snapped up and placed in the Mark Jones team, winning first-up for the Burnham stable at Forbury in May, 2012.
Now five, the Real Desire gelding came back after a year off to win second-up on the first day _ his third win from 24 career starts.
Superior Desire finished best from the third line on the outer to nose out Bute Courage in the Fertlizer NZ Ltd Mobile Pace on the first day, pacing the 2400m in 3:02.6 (2:02.4 mile rate), with the last 800m in 58.1s.