Busy schedule no worries for the Warrior
Matt Markham - Raceform • February 21st, 2025 11:59 AM
If the heavy racing schedule of the past few months is starting to get to Canterbury warhorse Tempo Warrior, then the gelding’s trainer Mark Jones is yet to see a sign of it.
Since the start of January the six-year-old has started on nine occasions and spread his racing around the entirety of the South Island. And he’s set for another two starts over the course this weekend too with a double assignment down at Cromwell over Friday and Sunday.
“He actually seems to thrive on the busy racing schedule,” Jones told RaceForm. “The more you put into him the better he reacts and even then, just when you think he might be coming up to being due for a break, he’ll step out and run a good race again.”
A noted stand start exponent, Tempo Warrior lands in a handy feature pacing event on Friday which is effectively a prelude to the annual Fruit Bowl Cup which will be held on Sunday.
He comes into the race having finished fourth in his last two starts in the Amberley and Hororata Cups.
“He’s a nice honest horse, just goes out there and gives his all each time he lines up for you and you can expect the same again. He’s probably a bit better when coming from off the speed, but because he begins so good he often finds himself in front.”
The 11-race winner is one half of a two-pronged attack for Jones on the first-day Cromwell feature, with Tokyo Rose also set to take her place in the McNulty’s Transport Handicap Pace off the back of a good win at Addington last week.
“She’s racing really well at the moment but this is a bit of a step up,” Jones added. “She won’t mind the grass track though, and with a good trip she could be quite dangerous.”
Jones is a regular visitor to the Central Otago and will have a strong team of horses for this weekend’s double-banger meeting.
Tact Teena gives the stable a nice chance in the junior drivers’ event with in-form Wilson House taking the reins. The well-bred pacer has competed in some strong fields and shouldn’t be too far away on Friday based off a good recent trial.
“Tact Teena is a chance and the trotters aren’t the worst either. I was very happy with the debut of Mass Disruption at Motukarara last week – there’s a win there at short notice.”
Rush and Switch On are the other two trotting prospects, both of whom hold strong each-way hopes.
Tempo Warrior will look to build on his busy start to the year with two starts at Cromwell this weekend.
Credit: RaceForm
