Journeyman Jonny gets 700

Southland born Canterbury based reinsman Jonny Cox comes from a family steeped in harness racing history, with his grandfather Harry training 335 winners and his father John training one of New Zealand great trotters, David Moss.

Cox, who now lives in Canterbury, created his own piece of history today when he drove his 700^th winner Moonlight Angel (One Over Da Moon) at Ascot Park.

It was made even more special because besides also training the mare, she wore the family racing colours and she won in his home province.

“You look from time to time (at the number of wins) and think you’ve still got a wee way to go. Coming down here has definitely helped me get there a wee bit quicker. I’ve had six or seven drives every time I’ve come down so I’ve been pretty lucky that way. I’ve always kept the colours registered after Dad stopped training. They don’t get out too much but it’s nice to get the milestone wearing them today. Coming down here is also helping the holiday fund out,” he said.

Cox’s first winner was Godet for Tony Barron at Winton in September 2002 and his first for his father came a couple of months later when Tip Off won at Wyndham.

Today’s winner Moonlight Angel is a relative newcomer to the stable after being trained by her owner Joe Clementson.

“I’d driven her a couple of time at the trials and races and I didn’t mind her. He was wondering what to do next – sack her or carry on. I suggested to him that I should take her for a month and if we didn’t make a dollar I’d send her back. She just probably needed to be worked in company. We changed a few things on her, bad hands let her down last week (laughter) and she missed away but ran a good fifth. We got away today, sat third and toughed it out pretty good.”

MOONLIGHT ANGEL REPLAY

https://youtu.be/PfS1CzQChRM?si=rt8uOg89o_69Zwoj

Moonlight Angel’s winning margin was a length from Stella Bay.

Cox’s biggest moment as a driver came in the 2014 Group One Dominion Handicap when he won with Jaccka Justy which he also co-trained with Amber Hoffman.

“It was pretty special (the Dominion Handicap) but even the likes of driving Folklore who won a Group Two and what Pinseeker has done. I drove a few winners for Mark (Purdon) and Natalie (Rasmussen) including a Group One. There’s been lots of highlights and hopefully we can add a few more.”

Cox’s other Group One winner was on Elle Mac for Purdon and Rasmussen in the Caduceus Club Two Year Old Fillies Classic.

This season he’s part of a winning trio with Alta Meteor trained by his employers Stonewall Stud, winning the Superstars Championship and Autumn FFA and these days he’s driving in some of the country’s bigger races.

“It’s something I haven’t done a lot of. I haven’t had a lot of horsepower over the years but this year has been different. At Stonewall they’ve had enough horses for Tim (Williams) to drive and for me to be on the second stringers. Any winners are good winners whether they’re $100,000 or $10,000. It’s just good to see happy owners and trainers.”

Although he trains a small team with his partner Kimberly Butt, it’s the driving part of the sport he loves most.

“I’ve been doing it all my life. The more you’re out there the more you enjoy it.”

His best season as a driver to date, was 2015 when he drove 62 winners. As a junior, he drove 40 winners in the 2005 season, taking out the New Zealand Junior Drivers Championship which he won again the following season.

Both Cox and Butt have a busy life with Jonny heading off to Stonewall in the mornings whilst Kimberly travels south to work for Brent and Tim White before the couple train a few of their own horses in the afternoon. The have a young daughter Kenzie to take care of as well.

“Lucky Dad’s there in the morning and does the joggers and there’s a few to hopple for Kim and I after we both finish work. I’m lucky to have Mum and Dad at home because Mum looks after Kenzie a lot.”

Kenzie turns three in August and has brought plenty of joy to the Cox family.

“She comes out with new words every day. The other day at Mum and Dad’s she’d just finished tea and said ‘Deee licous’. We all wet ourselves laughing. She’s pretty special to us.”

As a trainer Cox has trained eighty seven winners with Pinseeker being the latest stable star.

“He was a bit of a surprise package. We thought a little bit of him but everything we throw at him he stepped up. At his last race he’d probably had enough and it was a bad drive at the same time. We’ve given him four weeks out and he’s just come back jogging. He’s in a tough grade but I can’t wait to get him back.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink