STABLE ADVANCES TO 25 WINS
The Mark Jones stable advanced to 25 wins for the season on Sunday, January 8, showing a good sense of occasion winning races at both the Wyndham and Nelson meetings.
Regan’s father Barry is president of the Wyndham Trotting Club, who again took their January meeting to the holidaymakers in Central Otago.
Mark delivered by a nose at Nelson with maiden winner Lively Eastburn, who is owned in the area by East Takaka breeder and identity, “Skeet” Barnett.
“He was over the moon,” Mark said.
Mr Barnett bred the 3YO Live Or Die gelding from Eastburn Gee (Badlands Hanover-Biddy B B), the winner of six from 35 starts for $41,522.
Lively Eastburn is the first foal from Eastburn Gee, who won her maiden for Dave Anderson, then another five when prepared by Murray Pash.
His grand-dam Biddy B B (Nero’s B B-Eastburn Lass), who has chestnut colouring like Lively Eastburn, won six of only 21 starts for former top trainer John Lischner, and left other good winners in Handoverbid (six NZ wins), Straven (five NZ wins, 1:54.4, US) and Be Artful (three NZ wins, 1:56.5, Aust).
Biddy B B’s dam Eastburn Lass was a half-sister by Noodlum to Mr Barnett’s former top trotter Eastburn Grant (13 wins & $212,995), the 1997 Rowe Cup winner when prepared by John Lischner.
Lively Eastburn, a sound fourth on the first day, tasted success at his fourth career start.
His good stand start manners contributed to Sunday’s win.
He ended up with the perfect one-one sit in the C B Marketing/The Car Company Ltd Pace, then unwound strongly late after being switched four wide in the straight.
Lively Eastburn wore down a gallant Living Lord in 3:05 for the 2400m (stand), the leaders running their last 800m in 59.4s.
BEDLAM WON FIRST DAY MAIDEN
Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones moved to fourth on the trainers premiership after Bedlam scored an easy maiden win on the first day of the Nelson meeting on Friday, January 6.
Bedlam led over the last 2000m of the WHK Mobile Pace.
The Washington VC gelding was allowed to ease the speed in the middle stages, then was too slick over his final 800m in 57s and closing 400m in 28.2s.
Bedlam, a half-brother to useful USA winning mare Linatawa (1:52.8), came clear to win by three lengths over Lively Shard, pacing the full 2400m in 3:03 (2:02.7 mile rate).
Raced by Ernie and Gail Bailey of Ohoka, Bedlam had earlier scored a penalty-free two-year-old win at Forbury in July.
Bedlam didn’t back up in the same form on the second day and will be freshened.
By Jeff Scott