The Queensland winter working holiday for harness racing trainer driver Mark Jones is off to a great start. And that’s before it actually starts.
The former world driving champion touched down on Brisbane soil last Sunday night and greeted his pair of troops in Delightful Memphis and Kowhai Monarch on Monday morning.
Both Delightful Memphis and Kowhai Monarch travelled by road from Sydney and took no harm while classy mare Rocker Band remained behind to contest the Gr.3 $31,800 Garrards Frith Stakes at TABCORP Park, Menangle on Saturday before heading north.
Jones heads to Albion Park this Saturday night and looks likely to strike early.
“We’re off to a good start and both horses have arrived in good shape and look ready to kick-off their Brisbane campaign this weekend. Both have come up with good draws and should prove very competitive, obviously it’s hard to line up the form of the rivals but I’m told they look well placed.” Jones said.
Classy filly Delightful Memphis is the ace in the pack for Jones and will chase the Listed $25,000 Egmont Park Stud Provincial Oaks at Albion Park on July 1 before starting in the Gr.2 $75,000 Queensland Oaks the following week.
A last start runner-up behind arch rival and freakish filly Spanish Armada in the Gr.1 $150,000 Diamond on Jewels day at Ashburton in 1:52.1 on June 3 will start from gate three in the final event, the APHRC Winter Carnival Begins July 1 Mares Pace over the 1660m.
Boasting a record of 6 wins and 15 minor placings from 22 starts to date, Delightful Memphis has finished as runner-up behind Spanish Armada on ten occasions.
It was expected Spanish Armada was also Brisbane bound before injury forced a change of plans.
And that news has Jones with an extra spring in his step.
“Look it’s very disappointing for connections and fans alike that we won’t see this super filly competing but it certainly gives us a chance of securing a big race victory. The whole reason for this trip for us was to pick up an Oaks title and when it was announced that she was also coming, we certainly had reservations.
“You can’t run and hide forever and obviously we made the trek across the ditch, we’re here now and things have certainly fallen in our favour. This run this weekend will have her ready for her two main targets.
“We’ve been so close in many major events this season but it would be great to end her three-year-old term with an Oaks victory, I think she deserves it.”
An added bonus for Jones this weekend is securing the drive behind millionaire pacer and Craig Cross trained Bling It On in the Listed $25,000 Lucky Creed Open Pace.
The Hunter Cup winner resumes and is being readied for the Gr.2 $50,000 Garrards Sunshine Sprint on July 8 followed a week later by the Gr.1 $200,000 UBET Blacks A Fake.
“I wasn’t expecting this drive, it came as a real shock and I’m quite humbled by it actually, he’s a mighty horse with a great following.
“He’s had a couple of trials and looks nicely drawn off the front-line (gate 5) but there looks to be a number of hardened runners in the field.”
Regular reinsman Luke McCarthy has elected to remain in Sydney where he has a number of key bookings including the richly talented three-year-old colt Vincent for Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen in a semi-final of the Breeders Challenge series.
Chris Barsby