Lola Jones Cambridge Horse of the Year

by Duane Ranger

Irish-born Kiwi, Gerry Cronin, is over the moon. His brown McArdle mare, Lola Jones, has been named Dunstan Feeds Cambridge Raceway’s Horse of the Year.

The Steve Telfer and Chris Garlick trained six-year-old won six times, and placed six times at Cambridge this season. She won the title by eight points from Fizzie Lizzi (32). KD Hall (31), Toot Toot (26) and Danke (25) completed the top five.

Cronin, who owns Lola Jones, was ecstatic with Dunstan Feed’s $10,000 sponsorship. It’s the only horse he works in conjunction with Steve Telfer and Chris Garlick.

“It’s a dream come true, a fairy tale, considering I only bought her to train and drive as an amateur horse. Now she’s won six races this season and has broodmare possibilities later on.

“I’m delighted and want to thank Dunstan for their kind sponsorship. I targeted the series at the start of the season. It gives you something to strive for, and now that we’ve won it, well its worth another two wins isn’t it?” Cronin said.

“I’m over the moon. The Club and Dunstan need to be applauded. Even though I’ll have to place her carefully, I’ll keep racing her next season as well. Maybe we can defend the title,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Director of Dunstan Feeds Ltd, David Smith, was delighted that Cronin and Lola Jones claimed the prize.

“Good on him. I’m delighted for both the horse and her connections. We are happy to be involved in the industry and with Cambridge Raceway. This is our fourth year now and we have signed up again for next year,” Smith said.

The club’s Business Development Manager, David Branch said Lola Jones and Cronin were worthy winners. He explained how Lola Jones got the prize.

“This season the registered owner of the winning horse, with the highest points, as at the last meeting in which it competed at ‘The Raceway’ will receive $4,000; the trainer of that horse will receive a $3,000 product prize; the trainer of the second horse with the most points a $2,000 product prize; and trainer of third horse a $1,000 product prize.”

He said each winning horse of a totalisator race at ‘The Raceway’ accumulated points relevant to its starting position, and every horse that placed second in a totalisator race will receive two points.

The horse with the most points after “The Raceway’s’ final meeting of the season was deemed the winner.

Points were allocated as follows: Mobile races: barrier 1,2,3,4 = 5 pts; 5,6,9,10 = 7 pts; 7,8,11-16 & up = 8pts

Standing start: Ft 5 pts; 10m 6 pts; 20m 7 pts; 30m.

Meanwhile ‘The Raceway’s 2016-2017, and the club’s ‘Performance-of-the-Year’ went to the 2016 New Zealand Cup winner, Lazarus.

Branch said a ‘Horse-of-the Meeting’ was selected among race winners with the most meritorious winning performance.

The Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen trained Lazarus won the award for his one-and-three-quarter length victory in the Group Two $60,000 Waikato Flying Mile on January 6.

He was driven by Purdon and paced the mile in 1:54.9 and came home 55.5 and 26.8.

Branch also explained how Lazarus got the award.

“After the final meeting of the year (last Sunday) a panel of judges selected the Cambridge Raceway Horse of the Year from amongst the nightly winners.

“The winning owner(s) of Lazarus will receive a trophy in recognition of their horse’s effort,” Branch explained.

Meanwhile. Steve Telfer and Chris Garlick cleaned up as the ‘Leading Trainer(s)’ at ‘The Raceway’ this season.

All Cambridge Raceway winners in 2016-2017:

Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com

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