SMOKE N GRIN TRANSFERS ON WINNING NOTE
Smoke N Grin, who opened a winning weekend treble for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones at Forbury Park last Thursday, October 2, will remain south for his future racing.
The Grinfromeartoear-Smoke N Mirrors gelding transferred back to Westwood Beach trainers Jonny Cox and Amber Hoffman after leading throughout the Dunedin Holiday Park Pace.
Blair Orange, notched a winning treble of drives with the Overport Lodge team last weekend.
He will attempt to further his record for the Cox/Hoffman barn, but steps up to a C2-4 win race, at Gore on Saturday.
Smoke N Grin won second-up for the Westwood Beach trainers at the Riverton meeting at Invercargill last November.
He was having his fourth start this spring for the Jones team at Forbury, with Mark making the decision pre-race he would have more suitable opportunities on the south circuit.
Smoke N Grin stepped straight to the front for Blair Orange and maintained a solid clip to hold the consistent Milligan by 1 1/4 lengths in 3:30.2 for the 2700m stand (2:05.2 mile rate).
He quickened over his last 800m in 57.8s and final 400m in 28.7s.
Oasis Dream was rewarded for consistency at Forbury.
Having his fourth run since being purchased by the Butterworth Racing Syndicate, the half-brother to Le Sol (1:54.3) and grand-son of five win racemare Laudit held Courage To Fly by half a length.
The 4YO Major In Art gelding paced the 2200m (stand) in 2:53.1 in the hands of Blair, pacing his last 800m in 548.6s and final 400m in 28s.
Mark racked up his fifth win for the term when Tuxedo Max made amends for his close second at Motukarara with a useful front-running win at Rangiora on Sunday October 7.
The 4YO Elsu-Paris Hilton gelding strode to the top for Blair and made every post a winning one.
He was untroubled to hold trailer Jaycees Belle by 1 3/4 lengths, pacing the mobile 2000m in 2:30.5, quickening over his last 80m in 58.4s and final 400m in 27.5s.