Burnham trainer Mark Jones rarely heads south without a horse ready to win and a plan to be executed.
The Bus driven by Samantha Ottley duly won for Jones today and I suspect the plan may be to line up in a special maiden initiative introduced by Southern Harness this season – a $12,000 Nugget Mobile Pace Final at the Northern Southland meeting on 7th October.
The Bus is now qualified for this race and the conditions of the series allow him to carry on winning in the meantime. Jones is also a fan of the Northern Southland Club and has been a sponsor for a few seasons.
All horses that start between today's Gore meeting and the end of September in non-win races and accumulate enough points will be eligible to start in the final.
And Jones's plan could also extend to getting early points on the board for the Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes in April.
In today's race Ottley eased the three year old into his stride from a tricky second line draw. She moved The Bus out with 1800 metres to run but was beaten to the jump by a fast move from Clark Barron driving Some Excusesomewhere. Ottley got onto the back of the Barron runner and was taken forward with cover. With just under a lap to run The Bus had taken up the running from the favourite Black Ops.
The Bus held on to win by three quarters of a length from Black Ops with Benio Ben another length and three quarters back in third.
The Bus beating Black Ops – Photo Bruce Stewart.
"He was a wee bit too smart today which he had to be from the draw. But he had to get round them. He did it quite comfortably but actually knocked off at the end. He still had a bit there (at the finish). It's his first trip down here and there looks to be a bit of improvement in him," said Ottley after the run.
Last season The Bus raced in the Young Gun Series in Auckland against the likes of Alta Maestro and Spankem.
He resumed this season at Addington last Friday night.
"I was really pleased with his run at Addington the other night. I know it was only fifth but it was a good fifth. He was nice and relaxed today because he can go the other way."
The three year old Art Major colt is raced by loyal stable client Grant Hatton. He's out of the Falcon Seelster mare Rondel Franco which won thirty seven races in a career that included racing in New Zealand, Canada and America.
Hatton raced The Bus's half brother Saveapatrol which won eleven races including the first ever Northern Southland TC Futurity in 2013.
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing