ROCKER BAND TOO CLASSY IN SOUTHERN BELLE SPEED FINAL
Maturing 4YO mare Rocker Band wasn’t fazed by travelling the length of the NZ within a week to take out the $19,743 Southern Belle Speed Series Final at Winton on Saturday, March 19.
The daughter of Rocknroll Hanover and Mainland Banner ran a strong second to Lusty Mac in the $40,000 Northern Mares Classic at Auckland on Friday, March 11, then flew into Christchurch the next morning.
Rocker Band, and Samantha Ottley, who took out the Southern Belle Speed Series Final at Winton on Saturday. Photo: Bruce Stewart, Southland Harness Racing.co.nz
She trekked south to Winton for the final leg of the Southern Belle Speed Series, after winning her heat in a career best 1:53.3 in December.
Rocker Band again showed her class down south, pressing forward from the outside front gate to take control at the 900m for driver Samantha Ottley.
Sam was able to get a breather with the favourite from the 800m to the 400m in 29.7s, with Rocker Band proving too slick over her final 400m in 26s.
She cut out the mile in this occasion in 1:55.4, holding Motu Moonbeam (trail) and PIcobello (three back) comfortably by 1 1/4 lengths.
Rocker Band was recording her fourth win from eight starts this term for $43,807, while she’s now won eight of only 22 lifetime starts for $85,622 for Gold Coast owner, Greg Brodie.
Trainer Mark Jones has the $100,000 NZ Breeders Stakes at Addington on April 1, and the $150,000 Harness Jewels 4Y0 Mares Diamond at Cambridge on June 4, as upcoming late season targets for Rocker Band.
However, she is now likely to have prematurely early retired Allstars mare Fight For Glory as a rival in those features after it was announced she has freshened well following her unplaced run in the Ladyship Mile at Menangle late last month.
Rocker Band’s Winton win furthered a good week for the Overport Lodge stable.
A week ago, Delightful Memphis remained unbeaten in her first two Group 3 starts when taking out the $25.000 Caduceus Club Of Southland/Nevele R Stud Mobile Pace at Ascot Park, Invercargill on March 12.
The promising Bettor’s Delight filly overcame a second row draw for catch driver Ricky May to outsprint Allstars runner Renske B to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 2:45.5 (2200m), the last 800m in 56.1s and final 400m in 27.1s.
Delightful Memphis is likely to try and stretch her unbeaten run to three in a Sires Stakes Fillies Heat at Addington this Saturday night (March 26).
Franco Exeter, compiling a useful record for owner Wayne Higgs and trainer Mark Jones.
The Mark Jones stable also notched a double at the grass invited drivers day at Waikouaiti on Thursday, March 17, with the hardy Fair Dinkum Bromac, and lightly-raced Franco Exeter.
Fair Dinkum Bromac, the 9YO veteran of 156 starts, brought up his 10th career win for catch-driver Jimmy Curtin at Waikouaiti.
Trainer Mark Jones has made the most of the drop-back handicap concessions over the last three seasons with Fair Dinkum Bromac, who now returns to a C2 assessment.
Franco Exeter (5g Lis Mara-Elisit Franco), now the winner of two and twice second from four starts for owner Wayne Higgs, contributed to driver Dexter Dunn winning the drivers series when he justified his favouritism in a C1-2 invited drivers pace.