By Michael Guerin
One of New Zealand’s best pacing mares is heading off-shore and trainer Mark Jones admits he doesn’t know when to expect her back.
Jones is sending Stylish Memphis to Sydney to be trained by former Kiwi horseman Jack Trainor, who trains alongside Jason Grimson at Menangle.
The plan was hatched when it became clear the All Stars runners Amazing Dream and Beyond Words were not heading across the Tasman, with trainer Hayden Cullen set to have no Aussie reps for the summer.
“With Amazing Dream in particular not going the Sydney races like the Ladyship Mile become very attractive,” says Jones.
“Not just because she won’t be there but because it also means she will be here and that makes the Addington mares races here so much harder, especially with Beyond Words also being here.
“So Sydney is the best place for her and Jack had been hassling me for a while to send her over and now is the time.” It is not the first time Jones has sent Stylish Memphis to another trainer to maximise her potential, with Mark Purdon himself training the filly to win last season’s NSW Oaks after being a huge second in the Victoria Oaks.
“It is about placing them where they are best suited and can make the most money,” explains Jones.
“After those two mares races here at Addington she has no real mares opportunities until the Jewels and even that could mean taking on Amazing Dream again.
“I don’t think we have enough good mares races here and after the two coming up she has to race the likes of Copy That and Self Assured.
“Whereas at Menangle she has two A$50,000 mares races before the A$200,000 Ladyship Mile and then can races in mares races every second week.”
While Jones and his owners are leaving the option of Stylish Memphis returning for the Jewels open she could also possibly head to North America.
“That is another option for her because of all the mares races and the times she can get for her future broodmare career.” Stylish Memphis won’t be the only former Jones-trained good pacer plying her trade at Menangle soon, with Burnham Boy having already started his career there with a win two weeks ago after a two-third share in him was sold to big-time US owners Gordon Banks and Marc Hanover.
