Smoking Jena fastest qualifier at Motukarara trials yesterday

Press, 3 September 1986, Page 39

Smoking Jena fastest qualifier at Motukarara trials yesterday

By

JEFF SCOTT

Smoking Jena, which finished best from the trail to win in 3:14.1 for 2400 m, was the fastest of 12 pacers and three trotters to qualify at the Peninsula Owners and Breeders trials at Motukarara yesterday. A three-year-old son of the ill-fated sire Locarno, Smoking Jena is from the Tempest Hanover mare, Temp Jena Song, a halfsister to the big winners, Lopez Song (1:56.6), Armbro Rhythm (1:59.2), Armbro Song (1:58.2) and Dorothy Lopez, among others.

Smoking Jena is prepared at Ohoka by Paul Black, who also produced Curious Nod (3g Nood-lum-Curiosity) to qualify in 3:17.2 earlier in the day.

Smoking Jena, which showed promise in juvenile parades last term, outfinished the pace-maker, Silver Trace, a four-year-

old daughter of Sonny Silver and the Lumber Dream mare, Tennessee, with Terry McMillan, by half a length.

Silver Trace returned 3:14.2 for second, with the Jack Smolenski-trained Starwin Boy, a three-year-old Out to Win colt which is a half-brother to Robin’s Star, recovering well after an early lapse to take third and qualify in 3:14.3.

Others to qualify over 2400 m were: Zola Bay (3f Bogart Hanover-Waimea Bay) 3:15.6, Farrand (4m Farr Hanover-Scottish Pride) 3:16.1, Sweet Innocence (3f Clever Inno-cence-Florida) 3:16.3, Personality Pete (3g Nood-lum-Jovial Jeanie) 3:16.4, The Pygmy (3g Farm Timer—Wendy Winkle) 3:15.9, and Kelrina (3g El Patron-Faye Hanover) 3:16.3.

Idle Bromac (3g El Patron-Idle Joyce), a stablemate of Sweet Innocence in Robert Dunn’s

Broadfield team, won the 2600 m pacers qualifying heat in 3:32.4, beating Sir Redwood (5g Great MannRedwood Lass), who recorded 3:32.6. Robert Dunn’s brother, Geoff, who has been granted his trainer’s licence, prepared Zola Bay to win her 2400 m heat.

Tihahi Bay led throughout to win the 2600 m trotters qualifying trial in 3:24.8. Prepared by Barry Hamilton, the four-year-old daughter of Sergio Hanover and the minor trotting winner, Swift Creek, held on by half a length from Today’s Special, a four-year-old half-sister by Plat Du Jour to Borrowed Time in Robin Butt’s team, which went 3:24.9, and Prixole L’arc (5g Beau NonantaisMarsha Donna), which recorded 3:25 for third. There was much interest in this year’s Lion Northern Derby winner, Laser Lad, in the main pacers' heat. Starting from 80m behind against moderate opposition, the Noodlum gelding was not hurried by trainer-driver,

Peter Jones, settling fifth and remaining there throughout. Laser Lad, which makes a fresh start in the Second DB Superstar Four-Year-Old Trial at the New Brighton meeting on Saturday, was timed, post-to-post, over the 2600 m in 3:29.3, his last 800 m in 60.1 and final 400 in 295.

Rocky Spot (20m) led for much of the running, holding out Pendah Lady (It), which trailed, by a head in 3:35.8 for the 2600 m, the leaders running their closing 400 m in 30s.

Fly Boyden Fly (50m), third throughout, was a length back, with a head to Gold and Black (70m) and Laser Lad next.

Maiden pacers to win over 2600 m were: Always Smile (3:32.2), Bossy Star (3:55.5) and The Oracle (3:40.9), while Reb Trail accounted for two rivals in the CO trotters’ heat in a slow 3:57.6. Some Event held on to win the Cl and faster trot in a similarly slow 3:46.2, beating the only other, starters, Troppo and Yankee Derby.