New Power Stakes-winner Chasing More Black Type

Media Release - Wednesday February 1

Mark Jones is hungry for further black-type success.

The dual-code Canterbury trainer gained his first thoroughbred stakes win last Saturday when he produced Phelan The Power for an off-the-canvas victory in the Listed Timaru Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton.

Phelan the Power

Spurred by the performance, Jones has opted to up the ante even further with Phelan The Power, backing up the five-year-old Power gelding in Saturday's Gr.3 White Robe Lodge (1600m) at Wingatui.

"It was a good gutsy win last week. He was headed and came back to score and that was a pretty big thrill," Jones said.

The Timaru Cup was Phelan The Power's fifth win from 30 starts but he had already shown his potential with a gallant third placing behind Saturday's Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) winner He's A Doozy in the Gr.3 Coupland's Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton in November.

Jones, one of harness racing's most successful participants, admitted to "a couple of trainer errors" along the way but said he was loving the ride Phelan The Power had taken him on and while he was at peak fitness, it was the ideal time to have a crack at a Group race.

"He's been bucking and kicking ever since the race. He's licked the bowl clean every night so he's come through it pretty well," Jones said.

"He usually comes through his races pretty good and has normally backed up well. The more I race him, the better he gets. He's a bit like a standardbred in that sense so that probably suits me better."

Oaklands Stud's Power (GB) is the sire of Phelan the Power.

Part of Phelan The Power's exercise regime is working off a lead behind Jones' pacers.

Advertisement

"I train my pacers to stay a bit. If they've got that base fitness, it does carry them a long way. Conditioning is a big part of it and that shows in the last bit of their races,” he said.

"He lacks sheer speed but he's just got good determination and a real will to win. It was a pleasing result. He always hits a flat patch from the 600 to the 400m at Riccarton. It's a bit frustrating because it makes the job a bit harder for him but he's always just done that."

Winning rider Jasmine Fawcett sticks with Phelan The Power for the White Robe Lodge, for which he has drawn barrier seven and will again be ridden with good intent.

"If he can jump away like he has been, I'd like to see him in front. He's shown he's better trying to run the sprint out of his opposition and making it a real test of fitness," Jones said.

"If he could run top four or five at weight-for-age, we'd be happy. He's jumping 6kg in weight and takes on some pretty good ones, like (Group One winner) Prise De Fer. If he could run in the top three, it would be like winning it for us."

Jones said the White Robe Lodge would likely be Phelan The Power's final run for summer, with the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton next August his longer-term target.

"He's got good wet track form so I'll probably give him a break after Saturday and work towards the Winter Cup, which looks a good option for him." - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.