Mark Jones Racing

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Mark Jones Racing

Welcome to the page for Mark Jones Racing.

A former world champion driver, Mark is now a leading trainer of standardbreds in New Zealand as well as training a small team of thoroughbreds on the outskirts of Christchurch.

18/06/2026

Back to HQ for Friday Night Lights tonight for us with a team of runners engaged.

Race 7: #10 Wanna Play A Game - Sam Ottley
"She was great through the lower grade Silk Road series and has found a bit of a sweet spot. This is tougher though so we'll need a bit of luck from the draw but she should be running home strongly."

Race 8: #5 The Coalman - Darnika Williams
"Nice set up for him tonight as he should be able to get away quickly and get himself onto the markers and into play. Racing well enough that with the right trip he's a contender."

Race 8: #6 Tempo Warrior - Wilson House
"A bit like The Coalman really, his stand start manners should help him land on the speed tonight and he's going a little better than the form suggests and it wouldn't surprise to see him there at the finish."

Race 9: #6 Kowhai Star - Darnika Williams
"Galloped away at the trials last week so goes into this a little on the fresher side than we would have liked. Will improve with the run but is a sneaky top four chance with the right trip."

Race 9: #7 Seaside Croft - Sam Ottley
"Probably only just OK last week after getting the lead. Much better indicators from his two previous runs and with a nice trip tonight he can definitely play a role in this."

Good luck to our owners tonight!

12/06/2026

Decent sized team of runners for us tonight at Addington.

Race 2: #4 All Torque - Sam Ottley
"Better for having had a run at the races and will keep getting better too. Looking for good improvement off that debut and not the worst upset top four chance."

Race 2: #5 Artache - Anthony Butt
"A little like the other maiden, was near enough on debut and will keep improving. Looks a decent top four chance if things work out well from the niggly draw."

Race 8: #2 The Coalman - Sam Ottley
"He'll run his usual honest race again but he's not very well served here by the handicaps. Will be a lot keener on him in something a bit easier than this."

Race 8: #3 Mystery Beach - Blair Orange
"A lot like The Coalman, he's hurt by the handicaps but will step away and find a nice spot and hopefully can keep up with the good ones for as long as possible."

Race 9: #1 Tempo Warrior - Wilson House
"Hasn't been too bad of late and tonight gets the aid of the inside draw so should punch out and find all the short cuts home."

Race 9: #4 Seaside Croft - Sam Ottley
"Superb run at Ashburton from a wide draw and he's really on the way up at the moment. Nice draw to work from here today and if he runs up to his last two efforts he won't be far away."

Good luck to all our owners tonight!

06/06/2026

Two chances at Addington today for us.

Race 6 #12 Switch On - Sam Ottley
"A nice enough race for him today and if he was to bring his manners then he wouldn't be the worst chance."

Race 9 #11 Wanna Play A Game - Sam Ottley
"Big win last Sunday after making a long sustained run. Going great at the moment and this a great series for a mare like her. A bit of luck and she should be a strong chance once again here."

Good luck to both horse's owners today.

05/06/2026

To Addington we head tonight with a team of runners engaged.

Race 1: #5 Seaside Brucie - Sam Ottley
"He's had a wee freshen up since his last run and seems well. Will find this a little easier than those last few runs. Draw is a little tricky but good enough to be a chance in this."

Race 7: #10 Blazing Knuckles - Sam Ottley
"Much more like it last time out with a strong finish. Can go on with it from here too and with a nice trip on the markers tonight and a clean shot at them she should be running on well."

Race 9: #7 Tempo Warrior - Sam Ottley
"He'll appreciate this race tonight and if he can make his usual good beginning he should get onto the speed and find himself a nice trip. Can be a player."

Race 9: #10 Mystery Beach - Blair Orange
"Just keeps running really consistent races and is always a chance in this kind of grade. A good beginning here and he won't be far away tonight."

Race 10: #2 Dawn To Dark - Sam Ottley
"Three runs under the belt and should be ready to step it up from here. Finds a nice enough race to make the presence felt in and he is capable of running top four."

Good luck to our owners tonight!

21/05/2026

Just a couple of runners for us tonight at HQ on a huge night of racing.

Race 4: #6 Mystery Beach - Gemma Thornley
"Deserved the win last time out and took it well. Big step up here and lose some advantage with the mobile. Hopefully we can find a nice spot and he's running home strong at the finish."

Race 10: #14 Blazing Knuckles - Sam Ottley
"We'll just put a line through the last start. Had been going really well prior and hopefully we can recapture that form. Draw makes it really tough, but hopefully they roll along and it gives us a chance to get into it late."

Good luck to the owners of both runners tonight!

16/05/2026

Few chances for us out at Rangiora today.

Race 9: #4 Mystery Beach - Blair Orange
"Racing welk and finds the right kind of race today. With a good beginning should end up on the speed and with any luck can play a big role here."

Race 9: #9 The Coalman - Sam Ottley
"Doesn't know how to run a bad race and that is unlikely to change here. Bit of work to do from the 10m handicap but with any luck shouldn't be too far away from them."

Race 11: #7 Dawn To Dark - Darnika Williams
"Better for the fresh up run last week and will be better again for this one. Tricky grade too so looking for a bit of luck."

Race 11: #8 Seaside Croft - Sam Ottley
"Nice type back from a spell and has been good in trials. Will need a run under the belt but is good enough to be a strong each way hope in this field fresh up."

Good luck to all our owners today.

07/05/2026

Last NZ start for Francent

Canada is calling talented pacing mare Francent who has her final start on NZ soil tonight at Alexandra Park.
Sold into the stable of Canadian horseman Jacques Dupont, the 12-win mare is a $1.40 favourite to win tonight’s Charles Roberts N.I.S.B.A Stakes in Auckland, looking to sign off on a successful career here in the right fashion.
And for trainer Mark Jones, the daughter of Vincent is one he won’t be forgetting in a long time.
“She’ll always be well remembered around here fondly,” he said.
“You can laugh about it now, but we actually sacked her as a young horse and she returned to be our stable flagbearer for the past 12 months, so it’s a pretty unique story.”
Bred on the West Coast by Bob Higgins and raced by a syndicate of family members, Francent has been a victim of her own success and with opportunities limited going forward the decision was made to sell.
“She’s done an amazing job and is actually getting better but it’s not fair on her to have to race Marketplace and Got The Chocolates. She can head to America and only ever race against her own sex.”
Jones said being able to be a part of such a special story for the Higgins family was a real highlight.
“Being the first Gr.1 winner for Bob after 50 years of breeding was pretty cool, especially with the family ownership. A lot of thanks has to go to Steve Little too, he spent a lot of time with her helping when she was over on the coast.”
They’ll all be able to follow with interest from afar after tonight and take confidence in the fact that new trainer Dupont knows a little bit about Kiwi mares, especially ones from Overport Lodge.
One of his stable’s leading players at the moment is the former Jones trained mare Let’s N Joy who has won nine from 11 this year and is one of the best mares in Canada.
Crystal Hackett will be in the bike tonight for the final hurrah for the big mare with the big motor and with 12 wins, eight placings and close to $270,000 in the bank there’s room for a little bit more to be added to the passport before she heads to her next adventure.

Tonight's team.
Alexandra Park
Race 5: #8 Francent - Crystal Hackett
Race 7: #5 Queen Lizzy - Crystal Hackett

Addington
Race 3: #3 Layton David - Sam Ottley
Race 6: #10 The Coalman - Sam Ottley
Race 9: #7 Blazing Knuckles - Sam Ottley

Good luck to all of our owners tonight!

02/05/2026

Heading out to Rangiora today with three horses.

Race 1: #2 Kowhai Sunburst - Sam Ottley
"Near enough efforts of late and finds a nice race today. Good draw to use and hopefully with a nice trip we can sneak a top four."

Race 6: #10 What The Bell - Sam Ottley
"Going well when the manners are there and is always an each way chance if the right version turns up. A top four hope today."

Race 8: #7 Mattie Nevin - Sam Ottley
"Much more like it here last week when winning but this is a decent step up from that. Wide draw is a little tricky but with a bit of luck and a good tempo we'll be running on well."

Good luck to the owners of our team today.

01/05/2026

Group One racing in the north and a two-strong team at Addington for us tonight on Friday Night Lights.

Auckland
Race 6: #5 Queen Lizzy - Crystal Hackett
"Continues to race really consistently without being able to grab a win. Another opportunity tonight for her to run us a big race at the elite level. She seems well and with luck can sneak a top four."

Addington
Race 6: #6 Tempo Warrior - Sam Ottley
"Going good at the moment and while this is a little harder than some of his recent assignments, a good beginning and he can find a spot to be an upset top four chance."

Race 7: #3 Wanna Play A Game - Sam Ottley
"She seems well at home but we'll need to be very good tonight because there are some nice ones chasing off the handicaps. A good beginning and we can find a nice spot and hopefully give some cheek."

Good luck to our owners tonight.

25/04/2026

Off to Rangiora today with a strong team engaged.

Race 5: #3 What The Bell - Sam Ottley
"Capable on the right day but it all comes down to manners. Hopefully from a good draw we can land in the right spot and be there and ready to pounce turning for home."

Race 5: #12 Kowhai Sunburst - Darnika Williams
"Going well at the moment without really shining. Gets a chance today although will need a bit of luck early from the draw. Can be a sneaky top four chance."

Race 7: #2 Tempo Warrior - Darnika Williams
"Back into form on Friday night with a good run. He won't mind the quick back up and if wr can find the markers early again then he's a top four chance once more."

Race 7: #3 The Coalman - Sam Ottley
"Going great the moment and gets in here pretty well too. Will step quick and look to get to the markers and with the right kind of run he can be a major player again."

Race 8: #2 Mattie Nevin - Sam Ottley
"Probably a bit disappointing in the last few starts but is quite capable. We've got a draw to use and hopefully we can find a nice trip and be running on well at the finish."

Good luck to all our owners today.

Address

259 Grange Road
Christchurch
7677

Website

https://markjonesracing.co.nz/

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