By Jonny Turner
Mark Jones hopes his trip to Winton on Saturday won’t be his only one this month.
The Canterbury trainer brings three horses south and they’ll be in the first three races of the day, including his maiden trotter Prohibited Bid in race 3, the Mico Trot.
The chance to head down for a shot at one of Southern Harness’ Gold Chip Finals was the starting point for the Jones raid.
“There are not a lot of options for her at home and I like southern racing, so we are heading down there hoping she can qualify for one of the Gold Chip Finals they have,” Jones said.
“She’s a handy filly, she doesn’t show us a lot at home but she shows up on race day.”
“She’s gone two handy races so far, and should go another one.”
Jones also brings Le Twist south following an eye-catching trial effort at Rangiora.
The filly drops back into a maiden race, the Rheem Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace, after last starting in Coastal Babe’s two-year-old Harness Million win at Addington in October.
Though she hasn’t shown her best at the races yet, Jones is hopeful punters will see more from Le Twist this campaign.
“She has raced the good ones all the way through, she started favourite in a Group race in her first start.”
“We weren’t as happy with her then as we are now, she seems to have come up a lot better.”
“She is probably not up with the good ones at the moment, but she will race in the Nevele R heats and races like that and we will take it from there.”
“She has only had the one trial but she ran on nice.”
“She should go a pretty nice race on Saturday.”
Jones also starts Tres Bonne Fille in the opening race at Winton, the Goodman Plumbing Mobile Pace.
The filly was a little unlucky in her last start at Addington and though eighth, she finished close up.
Tres Bonne Fille looks to get a royal opportunity to break maidens in race 1 on Saturday.
“She doesn’t bring the best form but neither does anything else in the race,” Jones said.
“She comes up with the right sort of draw, so there won’t be too many excuses if she can’t go a decent race.”
Jones will make a return to driving, linking up with all three of his Winton runners.
