Jersey Jan prompt to win for new trainer

Press, 9 May 1979, Page 27

Jersey Jan prompt to win for new trainer

Jersey Jan only joined Jack Smolenski’s team last Friday, and she showed improvement on some rather unlucky racing to win the Metropolitan Breeders’ Plate. There was considerable merit in her win as she broke at the start and lost at least 50m. Smolenski improved with her along the inside, but she had only two or three behind her starting the last 600 m. She was mpved out soon after and improved quickly wide out to gather in the leaders close to the end and win by half a length. She completed on on-course treble worth $338.05, the other two legs being won by Stormy Morn and Nandina Maestro. Hal Cherie did well for second, ahead of the longshot, Natalie Hanover, with Roydon Wren close, by. Indi'vidualist, after being three iback until the straight, was iblocked for a run and fin-

ished full of running a nose! from Roydon Wren. Bonnie’s Chance and Miss Coquette, which are booked to race at Auckland on Sat-

urday, went only fair races. Bonnie’s Chance set the pace

i-and stopped to seventh, t while Miss Coquette, wide in, -■the middle part, dropped out' r 'to -last. ; i Beat The Gun, a costly .■failure since winning at sjManawatu a few weeks ago,; j j upset calculations in the' t ■ Fantom Handicap. Derek ■ i Jones bad her handily placed ' ;; three back on the rails. She > j responded well when /switched wide and got up toj si Wee Adios near the line toi /win by three-parts of a tj length. s Wee Adios held Ailsa y Hanover out by half a neck, clear of Elgin Lady and Exe calibur. e Stormy Morn got betters y away to a good start when a he won the Vodka Handicap. He had had four consecutive r second placings leading up - to the race and paid $2.60 i for a win. After the race his -Strainer, Trevor Thomas, said I s{the four-year-old would miss! sjracing at Oamaru on Satur-! -I day. ]■ si Stormy Morn was promiinent all the way, taking ; 5 charge early in the run ; d home. Count Arben came - fast at him over the final . piece, but he lasted to win s by a head.

Nan’s Girl came on for; third, just ahead of Crafty Key. which pulled hard in the middle part. Fair Alda, which had trouble working clear, and Westminster Abbey. Nandina Maestro, raced by one of the Metroplitan Trotting Club’s timekeepers. Mr Alan Gibson, added to his fine record for consistency in the middle leg, the C. E. Hoy Handicap. He was given every chance byWes Butt and lasted to hoid out Sly Belle by a nose. Logan Lea, after being in mid-field for much ctf the way, improved three wide on the home turn and fought on for third half a length back, ahead of Paul’s Express and Crow Bar. Thurber’s Boy, after being! well back early, finished on! better than New Averil and' Bright and Breezy to win' the Young Charles Stakes, recording a moderate 2mini 4.7 sec for the mile. Lady’s Rule made ground! steadily for fourth, ahead of; Spry High. '