Mark Jones Racing

16/10/2026

A big night of racing ahead for us at Addington with a large team of horses engaged.

Race 1: #2 Queen Lizzy - Anthony Butt
"Solid enough at Methven and doing everything but win at the moment. Gets another chance here from a good draw."

Race 2: #10 Burnham Girl - Sam Ottley
"Better last time out and on the way up. Drawn today no work at all and with a cold shot can be hitting the line strongly."

Race 3: #5 Mystery Beach - Gemma Thornley
"Getting close to his peak fitness now and should be ready to really step up. Well suited by the conditions tonight and can be a top four hope."

Race 4: #5 Harry Hill - Sam Ottley
"Better suited by the mobile conditions tonight and if able to get it all together here then wouldn't be the worst top four chance in a wide open field outside of the favourite."

Race 7: #6 Selsey Anne - Robbie Close
"Not a whole lot of luck lately but this is the kind of grade she should be competitive in. Looking for a better effort."

Race 8: #4 Tact McLeod - Sam Ottley
"Missed the last race with a wee issue and he's probably coming in here needing a hit out. Can improve on his recent runs but will need luck."

Race 9: #8 Seaside Brucie - Sam Ottley
"Going really well at the moment but this is a decent step up and we haven't been helped by the draw. If he can get himself into a nice spot and be strong through the line we'll be happy."

10/10/2026

Big team heading out to Methven today for us for the Akaroa meeting.

Race 1: #5 Queen Lizzy - Anthony Butt
"Big drop back for her today after some strong races up north. Grass track debut but probably has the class to win this."

Race 2: #8 Harry Hill - Sam Ottley
"Still getting the head around the racing game but is capable. Wouldn't be a surprise to see a cheeky run if he did everything right."

Race 4: #3 Sensitive To A Smile - Sam Ottley
"Has had a wee freshen up. Career so far has shown that when the manners are there we are competitve so hoping for that today."

Race 5: #7 Matilda Too - Sam Ottley
"Progressing nicely and grabbed a good win last time out. Steps up in grade here but is genuine enough to have an each way hope in a wide open field."

Race 8: #15 Magnate - Anthony Butt
"Better for the debut experience and will keep getting better. Draw doesn't help today so we'll be looking to be finding the line strongly."

Race 10: #8 The Coalman - Sam Ottley
"Needed the first up run and probably needs one more, but off the front he's going to give himself a chance to get on the speed and be a top 4 player."

Race 13: #4 Blazing Knuckles - Darnika Williams
"First up from a spell today and has had one trial. Better for today's run for sure but good enough to be a player from the good draw."

Good luck to all our owners today!

25/09/2026

Back in action tonight across both Friday Night Lights meetings.

Auckland
Race 8: #7 Queen Lizzy - Crystal Hackett
"She was very disappointing last week, but I have been a lot happier with her this week. Tricky draw and we might not be able to beat a couple of the better ones but I expect a much better effort."

Addington
Race 3: #5 Magnate - Anthony Butt
"First up tonight and has a bit of ability, but will get better with racing under the belt. Capable though and could sneak a top three finish."

Race 6: #3 Burnham Girl - Sam Ottley
"She's first up tonight and building in fitness so expect her to take plenty of improvement from it. Not the worst top four chance."

Race 6: #7 Selsey Anne - Robbie Close
"Racing well without all the luck in the world at the moment and the barrier draw tonight doesn't help things much. Capable of the right kind of run unfolds."

Race 7: #4 Harry Hill - Blair Orange
"Nice trotter in the making and will come on with the race experience. Getting around safely and finding the line will be a great result.".

Race 8: #3 Tact McLeod - Sam Ottley
"He's come on from the Hannon run after we had a few things to work on leading into it. Still building and we are just keen to see a much improved performance from him tonight."

Good luck to all our owners.

18/09/2026

In action across both meetings on Friday Night Lights tonight.

Auckland
Race 1: #2 Queen Lizzy - Crystal Hackett
"Back to somewhere near her best with a great run here last week. She's reaching her full fitness levels and from the good draw should be right in the hunt throughout."

Race 2: #8 Eyre I Will - Harrison Orange
"Back into the stable after a long time up here in the north. He's a capable trotter on his day and while the form doesn't read super flash he is capable of running a cheeky race tonight."

Addington
Race 2: #5 Wattlebank Will - Sam Ottley
"Really good at Methven in tricky conditions and he's a horse on the way up. Tidy wee field tonight but if things can pan out for him during the running he won't be too far away."

Good luck to the owners of our trio tonight.

05/09/2026

Off to Methven today with three chances.

Race 5: #10 Wattlebank Will - Sam Ottley
"Better for the first up run last time and will pick one up quick enough. The wet grass track is a bit of an unknown but a nice enough chance."

Race 10: #3 Tinkerbelle - Sam Ottley
"Back from up north and heading to the breeding barn this season. She's capable on the grass and not the worst chance today."

Race 11: #7 Zoom X - Sam Ottley
"Into another pretty even race again and was good last time. Can be a player once again."

Good luck to our owners.

03/09/2026

A couple of chances for us tonight at Addington.

Race 9: #3 Tact McLeod - Sam Ottley
"He's bounced through his first run well and we're expecting some natural improvement from him tonight. He will still keep getting though, the more racing he has the fitter he'll get after such a long time away. Wouldn't be surprised if he ran a cheeky race tonight though."

Race 12: #8 Selsey Anne - Sam Ottley
"Nothing went right at Ashburton last week and we've copped a pretty tough draw to work from this week. Will be hoping for a bit of luck early to find a good spot and if we're close enough turning for home she'll be finishing off strongly."

Good luck to the owners of both horses tonight.

31/08/2026

29/08/2026

Sunday racing action for us today at both Ashburton and Gore.

Gore
Race 2 #3 Sensitive To A Smile - Sarah O'Reilly
"Sneaks down south looking for a win after some really strong runs lately. Gets in a really winnable race and with manners should be quite hard to beat."

Ashburton
Race 6 #4 Mattie Nevin - Sam Ottley
"Great run first up at Addington last week and has taken good improvement off it. A couple of smart ones out wide, but she can be a top three player with the right run."

Race 6 #5 Queen Lizzy - Anthony Butt
"She'll also take good benefit out of her run last week. Things just didn't quite pan out during the race. She's capable of being competitive here with her best form."

Race 7 #11 Selsey Anne - Darnika Williams
"Really encouraging first up run at Addington and sharper for it. Second row draw might work out really well and with gaps at the right time should be running home strongly."

Race 10 #1 Zoom X - Sam Ottley
"Another great draw to work with today and if he can find the right kind of trip his best would be competitive here."

Good luck to all our owners today!

27/08/2026

Back to Addington we head tonight.

Race 3: #10 Mighty Flying Miki - Sam Ottley
"Has been good since winning his maiden a couple of weeks ago. Should be competitive in this line up but will need some luck from the second row."

Race 8: #2 Kowhai Star - Sam Ottley
"Not a lot of luck last week after getting trapped away on the fence. Something similar could well unfold here too. But with a good tempo, she should be rounding things off strongly."

Good luck to the owners of both horses tonight.

23/08/2026

Winners are Grinners!

Congrats to stable junior driver Darnika Williams on her first winning drive today!

She saluted on Royal Belle for Pete and Mitch Robertson with a great drive on the favourite.

A hard working and key part of our team, we are sure this is just the first of many.

Well done Darnika!

📸: Race Images