REWARDING NORTH WINTER VENTURE FOR OVERPORT LODGE
Although his owners have been the beneficiary of some Addington Met Multiplier bonus rewards over the last 12 months, Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones believes Addington need to do more with basic stake levels.
After a successful winter north campaign, Mark netted just over $77,000 for his owners with eight horses.
Zakspatrol, under offer to Norh American interests.
All, apart from Zakspatrol, have returned to Canterbury to freshen for spring racing.
Zakspatrol is under offer to North American interests and is likely to head Stateside later this month.
“Addington really need to lift their stakes,” Mark concluded after reviewing the results.
“Kowhai Monarch earned $6300 winning a maiden trot the same night Expresso Martini got just over $4k for winning a strong one-win race at Addington,” he said.
“Perissa went a 1:56 mile rate and earned less than a $4k winning stake at Addington.”
Intermediate-grade trotter Sunoflindenny and maiden trotter Landora’s Girl were the only two of his team unable to crack north wins, but the former earned early $9000 in place money in seven starts.
“Zakspatrol was a big winner, earning near $20k when he could have hardly found a suitable race in Canterbury,” he said.
The big Art Major gelding notched his third junior drivers race win on the trip at Cambridge last week, and his second on end in the hands of northern junior Michael Blakemore.
He gets another chance to add to his bankroll in a $13,500 C2-4 pace at Auckland this Friday night.
“Pomme Roy got more for winning in Auckland than the whole stake of a race in Canterbury!,” he said.
Saveapatrol, shown winning the Thames Cup at Alexandra Park (Trish Dunell photo).
The breakdown of his north winter earners was:
Rocker Band (five starts, Cambridge win, $4800).
Zakspatrol (seven starts, three wins, $17,844).
Kowhai Monarch (seven starts, one win, $7586).
Sunoflindenny (seven starts, $8700).
Real Torque (five starts, two wins, $12,272
Pomme Roy (six starts, two wins, $14,903).
Saveapatrol (two starts, Thames Cup win, $10,750).
Landora’s Girl (five maiden starts, $1287).
“It was a very successful trip for my owners and the club were very helpful,” Mark said.
“They put the horses in the right race and the club use the junior concessions well.”
Mark had his northern race team based at Pukekohe through late June until early August.
“A big thanks to Ray Green, and John and Lynne Street, for letting us stable at the first class Lincoln Farms,” he said.