By Matt Markham
In a perfect world, Mark Jones wouldn’t be taking Say Your Pres to Addington tonight but the lure of a concession victory for the three-year-old trotter was enough to get him interested in heading out at night in the middle of winter.
Under the current handicapping system, a win tonight for the talented young trotter would net half the rating points that it would next week when she will be a four-year-old, so Jones is looking to make a bit of hay while the sun is shining.
“She’s probably not 100 per cent screwed down just yet,” he said.
“But she’s good enough to win it I think, her workout the other day was pretty good.”
The daughter of The Pres won at her second start back in February but subsequent starts have failed to net positive results, Jones was never worried though and knew it was only time that was holding him back from the finish product.
“It’s a family that gets better with time and I know that she will.
“She’s actually better this time in than she was last time, so hopefully we are headed in the right direction.”
Jones will don himself in the white helmet and the vest tonight himself to drive the filly and his expectations are reasonably realistic from behind the mobile arm.
“Like I said, she’s good enough to win it, but if she doesn’t she’ll only keep getting better.”
Say Your Pres is the only runner from the Jones stable engaged tonight, but the former World Driving Champion will be in action on four occasions in a rare night of outside driving.
“I’m making a comeback, either that or they must be really short of drivers.”
Jones has hopped in the sulky just 84 times this season and will register the least amount of drives in a season for his entire career when the season ticks over next week.
“I’ve been focussed on the training and the selling side of things, I still enjoy getting out there and driving, but it’s just not the priority.”
He teams up with an old comrade in Dean Taylor for two of his other drives tonight with Scotlyn Mach and Scotlyn Justis and both are solid each way chances.
“You know what you get with Dean’s team and they both have good draws so hopefully they can be there or thereabouts.”
His other drive is the talented, but enigmatic, Cullenmore for another good supporter in Andrew Garters.
Matt Markham’s Addington Selections
Race 1: Sunrise Spur, Elvis P, Family Night, Girlz N Boyz
Race 2: My Nikayla, Donegal Lucy Anne, Theboyslightup, sHEBANG
Race 3: Say Your Pres, Diana Harbour, Shpeedy, Rocknpop
Race 4: Black Art, Earthquake, Shesa Tricky Bridge, Flamboyant
Race 5: Especial, Vera’s Delight, Jody Direen, Pantastic
Race 6: Alpha Rock, Christopher Banner, Lovetodream, Hypervelocity
Race 7: Cullenburn, Mikey Maguire, For The Corz, Woodlea Shawn
Race 8: Ronald J, Hey Yo, Idle Monkey, Donegal Bettorgretch
Race 9: Van Laddie, Revving, Tupelo Mississippi, The Tin Soldier
Best Bet: Cullenburn (Race 7)
Value: My Nikayala (Race 2)
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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