By Tayler Strong
Trainer Mark Jones, who has won races on four different tracks in the past week, has Kowhai Whiz angling to extend his record at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
Jones won a race at Menangle last Saturday with Kowhai Monarch, a half brother to Kowhai Whiz. Jones had won at Addington the previous night with Eyre I Come and added wins at Winton with Delightful Memphis and Rangiora (the 2-year-old trotter Castlereagh) on Sunday.
“The results have been pleasing in the past week with four wins and two New Zealand records,’’ said Jones. “It makes up for losing Master Lavros and Saveapatrol.”
Eyre I Come trotted 3.12.6 for 2600m and Delightful Memphis posted 2.55.5 for 2400m. Master Lavros has a hole in a tendon and Saveapatrol has gone amiss again.
Kowhai Whiz finished eighth at Addington last Friday when resuming from a three month break. He was a winner at Forbury Park in October and has been placed in his other three starts at Forbury Park this season.
“He (Kowhai Whiz) is a nice honest trotter suited to smaller fields,’’ said Jones. Kowhai Whiz (off 40m) has seven rivals tonight in race 3.
Father Christmas (50m), a last start winner from a 40m handicap at Invercargill and Its Elvis (10m), who won at Forbury Park last week, could offer stern opposition.
Kiwi Monarch was the first winner for Jones from a Menangle stable he has set up with Ashlee Grives, who drove the gelding. Grives has been based at Bathurst.
Trainer Mark Purdon has one drive at Forbury Park tonight – Partyon in the heat of the Sires’ Stakes. Partyon is unbeaten in 10 starts including the Harness Jewels at two, the New South Wales and Northern Oaks. She has won a workout at Ashburton on March 28 and finished second to Moonrock in a trial there on April 4 since her Northern Oaks win on March 3.
Purdon trained and drove Sicario and Motu Premier to win at Menangle on Tuesday. The 2-year-old Sicario ran 1.53.8, the fastest time in three heats of the Australian Pacing Gold. Motu Premier ran 1.53.
The up and coming 3-year-old Bakari is now the sole stable representative for trainer Graeme Anderson in race 8 at Forbury Park. Motu Time To Shine has been scratched and she will go for a spell.
“He (Bakari) is very well and if he goes away he is capable of running some time,’’ said Anderson.
Stablemate Delightful Jay will wind up her current campaign in race 6. She is in foal to Washington VC and ruled out of further racing until the outcome. The 4-year-old mare has run creditable minor placings in two starts since she won at Forbury Park on March 9.
Anderson has Titan Banner, All Star Magician and Hopes And Dreams engaged at Addington on Saturday.
Eamon Maguire, who established his class with a third in the New Zealand Derby, is being aimed at the $45,000 Southern Supremacy Stakes Final on April 30.
Honour The Bet (race 4) remained in the care of Anderson after finishing second to Miss Fandango at Forbury Park last Thursday.
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