SAVEAPATROL WINS 2ND-UP ON ROAD TO NEW ZEALAND CUP
A decisive return to winning form by Saveapatrol in the $18,500 Bayleys Coromandel 2015 Thames Cup hasn’t changed plans for the horse to cross the Tasman any time soon.
“Its great to get him back in the winner’s circle,” said trainer Mark Jones.
Saveapatrol cruises to the wire for Blair Orange in the 2015 Thames Cup at Alexandra Park (Trish Dunell photo).
“A lot of the credit goes to Regan (Todd) for the work he does with him,” he said.
Following the Thames Cup on Friday, July 3, Mark, and owner Grant Hatton, confirmed their decision for the horse to remain in Auckland this month.
Saveapatrol made a smart beginning from the 20m line and was in front after the opening 500m.
The lightly-raced big boy son of Christian Cullen and Rondel Franco revelled in his work on the front-end, second-up after an enforced 14 month layoff.
Although inclined to knock off a tad when he clearly had his rivals beaten inside the final 100m, Saveapatrol was super impressive, pacing the 2700m (stand) in a race record 3:22.2 (2:00.4 mile rate).
Driver Blair Orange put the hammer down passing the final 800m, letting Saveapatrol quicken from that point in a slick 55.5s.
Owner Grant Hatton, and wife Katherine, with Saveapatrol, after taking out the Bayleys Coromandel-sponsored Thames Cup. (Trish Dunell photo).
Saveapatrol, even though knocking off at the finish, still steam-rolled the opposition over his closing 400m in 27.6s.
Everything now over the next four months will prep the former Auckland Cup placegetter for the New Zealand Cup at Addington in November.
“He’ll just continue to race in Auckland and come back south for the Hannon Memorial etc. in the spring as the second Tuesday in November is the aim,” Mark said.
Saveapatrol has now raced only 18 times for 11 wins and a couple of minor placings, for $145,618 in stakes.
Providing he stays sound, and with regular racing, he could be one of the best prepared for this year’s 3200m cup.
Mark also picked up solid place money with stablemates, Zakspatrol (strong-finishing second) and the consistent squaregaiter Sunoflindenny (third) on Friday.
Oasis Dream and Kowhai Monarch ran sound fourths, and Landora’s Girl finished fifth, but Rocker Band, Pomme Roy and Twice The Delight were all unplaced.
Rocker Band, after sprinting hard early to wrest the lead in the C2-4 pace, over-raced and dropped away in the run home.
Pomme Roy tired after working early from the outside gate to race parked in a C1-2 pace, while Twice The Delight, wilted after trailing in the C1-2 mares pace.
By Jeff Scott