N.Z. Oaks next for Gina Marie

Press, 17 April 1978, Page 16

N.Z. Oaks next for Gina Marie

Special correspondent Auckland I Gina Marie, after her clear-cut win in the $12,000 North Island Oaks at Alexandra Park on Saturday, should have little difficulty rounding off the coveted Oaks double at Addington on Anzac Day. For it was with the assurance of a top-flight racemare in the making that Gina Marie was able to make most of the pace then run on far too well for her : rivals in the Thames Trotting I Club’s feature race. i Her Christchurch traineri driver. Jack Smolenski rates [the Brad Hanover filly (highly and thinks she will I eventually make a Cup i horse.

Smolenski felt after Saturday’s race that Gina Marie compared very favourably with other talented three-vear-old fillies he has been associated with in recent

years such as Royal Belmer and Gay Rose. “She’s a nice filly,” said Smolenski, “and she can both sprint and stay. She’s got plenty of fight as well.” Smolenski is now setting Gina Marie for the $12,000 New Zealand Oaks at the New Brighton meeting at Addington tomorrow week. Should she be successful, Gina Marie would complete an Oaks double only two other fillies — Terraton (1967-68) and Bonnie Frost (1969-70) — have achieved.

Gina Marie has now won six races and gathered five placings from 22 attempts for her owners, Mr and Mrs B. J. Smolenski, and their two sons, Dennis and Bob. Mr Smolenski is a cousin of the filly’s Weedons trainerdriver. After the New Zealand Oaks, Gina Marie may be turned out for a spell. High hopes are held for her as a four-year-old.