Smolenski might break record

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33252, 15 June 1973, Page 1 (Supplement)

Smolenski might break record

Uy

G. K. Yule

The Templeton trainer, J. W. Smolensk!, should have little difficulty creating a new record this week-end for the number of training successes in a single season. Smolenski will drive Speedy Guest in the $15,000 Great Northern Derby at Alexandra Park tomorrow, while eight members of his team will race on the first day of the Nelson Trotting Club's winter meeting at Richmond Park. So far this season, mem-

bers of Smolenski’s team have won 52 races, equalling the previous record established about 40 years ago by the late F. J. Smith. Among Smolenski’s best prospects at Nelson tomor- : row will be Happy Song, in I the Caltex Gold Cup, and : Jondor Hanover, in the Ben- . son and Hedges Handicap. ; the two legs of the T.A.P.. : concession double. He will ; also be represented by ; Mickey Dhu in the first leg and an in-form runner. Even • Step, in the second leg.

n Both Happy Song and Jon- » dor Hanover will be driven - by J. A. Carmichael, who y drove Happy Song to win the North Otago Pace at Oamaru t last month. Happy Song . showed that he had trained non satisfactorily when he •j beat all but the promising . Lancer Hanover in the , Rangiora Winter Cup last Saturday. He attempted to i lead for the last nine furv longs of a solidly-run two a miles and fought on in grand style when challenged. Tomorrow he will start

from 24 yards, with only four horses down to start from the limit. He is a dour stayer, and should handle the searching Nelson course better than most in the race The Southland five-year-old, Ron Hanover, makes up in courage what he lacks in inches. The small field should ensure that he does not have to contend with much buffeting, and no matter what track conditions prevail he is expected to make a forward showing. Johnny Rich, trained on

the course by J. T. Hill, is a proven winter performer, but , is as true .... * , stayer. With Sam Carter, he appeals most of the others. Jondor Hanover brought his race record to two wins, a second, and a fourth from four starts when he was successful last Saturday at Addington Raceway. This promising four-year-old looks to be well above average and in spite of the unwieldy field he will have to contend with he should make a bold bid

to win the second leg of the double. Flying F.agle. Charlie’s Romance. Even Step. High Chaparral. McCreedy, Galesburg, and Hunting Prince are others expected to show t<» advantage, but they will need luck to match Jondor Hanover over 11 furlongs.