By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Mark Jones enjoyed a fruitful night at Addington Raceway on Thursday, recording a treble on the 11-race card.
The Burnham trainer entered the winner’s circle for the first time after promising filly Monaco Grace put in a bold effort to take out the Nevele R 3YO Series No.44 (Heat 5) Mobile Pace (1980m), putting her right in contention for the final next month.
Driver Samantha Ottley launched the Bettor’s Delight filly off the gate where she was able to find an early lead from barrier two before handing up to the Regan Todd-trained Fernleigh Blackbird.
Ottley was not content in remaining in the trail and quickly urged her charge forward to recapture the lead.
She kept a solid tempo up front and was able to see off her challengers in the straight to win by three-quarters of a length.
Jones was pleased to see Monaco Grace back in form and is looking forward to her looming feature targets over the coming months.
“It was a good effort from her. She did a bit of work early and stuck to her task which was good to see,” Jones said.
“It is always good getting a Nevele R heat next to your name. She is doing a good job.
“She will probably just have one more run before the Nevele R Final on Cup Day and she will probably head to the Oaks after that.
“We have got a good path to follow with those fillies now. They lead into each other and she will probably have a break over Christmas.
“There is not a lot for four-year-old mares but being low-graded she should come back.”
Major Torque doubled the stables win tally on the night when taking out the Michael Bendall At Corcoran French Mobile Pace (1980m).
“He is showing what we always thought he could do,” Jones said. “We have looked after him and he will continue to get better. He got a nice run and was always going to be a nice maiden.”
Hot To Trot extended his winning streak to three and stamped himself as a trotter to watch when beating Highgrove by two lengths in the Alias Armbro 3YO Trot (1980m).
“He keeps surprising me,” Jones admitted. “He is just a lovely, genuine racehorse that tries hard. He has got speed and can stay. You can’t fault what he does.
“He will head to the Hambletonian and then onto the Derby, and then we will look to give him a good break after that and probably have a quiet four-year-old year as he has been pretty busy. He should only get better.”
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