Frisky filly qualifies

Press, 29 September 1988, Page 51

Frisky filly qualifies

By

JEFF SCOTT

The Fred FletcherMark Smolensk! training partnership should have an above-average “second-string” for this season’s N.Z. Trotting Stakes, judging by Arnie’s Frolic’s impressive recovery to qualify in 3:35.5 for 2600 m as a trotter at Addington Raceway yesterday. Sundon’s stablemate lost a big stretch of ground early after breaking, then she was broken up again after 200 m when she had come donw pacing. The daughter of Arndon and Game Folly (an April, 1986, foal), was timed over her last 2400 m in 3:9.8 to get within seven and a half lengths of the winner, Gettysburg, which ran a 'record 3:34 for a trotting qualifier at Addington. But Arnie’s Frolic didn’t really get cracking until the 2000 m mark yesterday, a distance she covered in an almost unbelievable 2:32.6 after peeling off a middle race quarter of 28.8 and 800 m of 59.7 to reduce the deficit She was timed over her last inile in 2:3.8 and her closing 800 m in 62.4 for Smolensk!. The winner meanwhile, Gettysburg, a six-year-old Yankee Reb gelding from the Tuft mare, Modern Min,

trained at Leeston by Terry McMillan, gave an accomplished display in front and went to the line capable of better. He should be an early maiden winner. The runner-up, beaten by five lengths was another six-year-old Yankee Reb gelding, Yankee Cord (from Good Cord), which returned 3:35. Miss Bella, a $5OOO National yearling sales purchase two years ago, led for much of the way to qualify pacing over 2600 m from a stand in a smart 3:26.6, coming clear over the closing stages to win by three lengths. A three-year-old filly by Son Of Afella from Exmoot, Miss Bella, a stablemate of Madam Lustre in R. R. Taylor’s Harewcod team, boasts Tacwyn, an unraced sister to Tactile, as her grand-dam. Fast Eddie (5g Lumber Dream—Even Step), which settled, third, battled on for second, recording 3:27.2, with Trying Tactics (3f Noodlum—Good Try), which settled fourth, taking third in 3:27.3, a half a length away. Lupinaire (4g Byebye Bill—Anita’s Dream), trained by Eric Ryan, won the second 2600 m heat from a stand in 3:28.6, leading throughout

to beat Robbie Lincoln (3c Lordship—Judy Lopez), which also qualified, in 3:28.8 for Peter Jones. Lupinaire, which was sent to the outside after failing to take up the No. 1 barrier position, was subsequently declared unruly from standing starts only. Droughtbuster (3g Noodlum—True Reine) took out the pacers 2600 m mobile qualifying heat for Neil Hamilton in 3:28.8. Cheerful Guy, a three-year-old colt by Apollo’s Way and the first foal from Cherry Top (a close relative of the 1974 New Zealand Cup winner Robalan) in Peter Robertson’s West Melton team, finished best from the third line to take time honours among the 2400 m pacing qualifiers, going 3:12.6. Others to qualify over 2400 m were: Ellebaras (3g Lord Brandon—Sarobelle) in 3:12.7; Aristicus (4g Dryham Lea—Annita Scott) in 3:12.9; Swappa Lopez (3c El Patron— Lopez Secret) in 3:13.6, Tom’s Brother (3g Sholty Imp—Lauriston) in 3:13.9; Kenzo (3c Sholty ImpFashion Parade) in 3:14.7; Henry Tee King(sg Farm Timer—Victoria Jo) in 3:17.1; 'and Wulfstan (3g Nero’s B.B—Winning, Idol) in 3:15.5.