Westport double for Jones

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Burnham trainer Mark Jones left Westport a happy man on Wednesday after recording a winning double, including the meeting’s feature.

Tact Teel started the day off with a bang for the stable when winning the opening race, the Apparelmaster Pace (2000m).

It was the first win for the son of American Ideal and Group One winner Tact Lizzy, and his future could now lie offshore.

“He got into the right race and probably had to win that. He is from a good family. His future might lie on Australia, but we will talk to the owners first,” Jones said.

Later on the card, Artatac took out the Caltex Cup (2600m) following a front-running drive from leading reinswoman Samantha Ottley.

“He got his own terms in front, had been racing well, and it was a good race for him,” Jones said.

“He went well at Addington last week with no luck and the grass doesn’t worry him. Being off the front was always going to be a big help, so I was quietly confident.”

The son of Art Major will now continue on the Country Cups circuit, which Jones said is enjoyed by his group of owners.

“He will go to Reefton now and then head up to Nelson and Blenheim where he will back-up on both days,” Jones said.

“It is good to race in front of these summer crowds, the clubs look after us really well, and the owners love coming to them.”

Meanwhile, Jones will have a change of hats later this week when he heads to Kurow to line-up galloper Phelan The Power.

“He will probably need the run at Kurow, he has just missed a bit of work with a foot infection,” Jone said.

“If he goes well there we will probably press on to the Kumara Gold Nuggets. He would be quite competitive in that.

“Whatever he does on Friday he will improve on.”

Jones said he is enjoying being a dual code trainer and the variety it brings.

“I am enjoying it and we are getting quite up there with numbers. It is good for a bit of variety and the owners are dual coded as well,” he said.