Gina Rosa back in work after brief rest

Press, 16 May 1989, Page 29

Gina Rosa back in work after brief rest

By

JEFF SCOTT

Gina Rosa, so competitive in the top grade this season, has returned from a winter respite in preparation for another New Zealand Cup attempt in November.

She had a busy season which extended her bankroll by $173,825 from three wins and 11 placings (including fourths) in 20 starts. Late last month at the Auckland Great Northern Derby meeting she chased home Luxury Liner in the $lOO,OOO Inter-Island Stakes and then ran third in another Group Three feature, the $40,000 Cadbury Schweppes Hudson Handicap behind Laser Lad and Dillon Dean. Trainer Jack Smolensk! sent the Plat du Jour mare out for a week on returning to Weedons, then it was business as usual for the $360,000-plus winner again last week.

"She went out for four weeks last year and it took a while to get her back in trim again so she

can stay in work virtually right through this time,” said Smolenski. Smolenski has been advised by Gina Rosa’a owners, the Wellingtonbased Devon Bloodstock group, that they have no intention of sending the mare to stud this year. Heartened by Gina Rosa’a solid fourth to Luxury Liner, Maestro and Speedy Cheval in last year’s New Zealand cup (won in world record time), and her similarly consistent shewing for third to Luxury Liner and Kylie’s Hero in the Auckland Cup (won in race record time), Devon Bloodstock no doubt feel luck may be on their side in the big Cups next term. She will be getting 20 metre starts from Luxury Liner in the New Zealand Cup after the latter’s penalties for winning the New Zealand Cup and two Auckland Cups, and while Smolenski is of the opinion the handicap should be more, it will be difficult for Luxury Liner,

champion stayer that he is, to overcome the odds next season.

Gina Rosa’s ability to begin swiftly from a standing start, supported by her placed 3200 m time in last year’s New Zealand Cup, an amazing 4:2.2, give her camp some optimism. She is also likely to be a little stronger next term when she returns as a seasoned seven-year-old. Outside races restricted to mares, the $50,000 N.Z. Standardbred Breeders’ Stakes, the $30,000 Premier Mares’ Championship and the National Bloodstock Ashburton Breeders’ Stakes, all of which she won, and the two Cups (in which she was placed), Gina Rosa’s luck deserted her for much of the 1988-89 term. This was never better illustrated than in the D.B. Draught Easter Cup, when she flashed home late for fourth, and in the Inter-Island Stakes, when she was broken up in the trail by Elmer Gantry

with 600 m to run, losing a few lengths. “That was the fifth time she has been checked in the running and never sprinted like she can, but she still kept going at the same speed to run second,” said Smolenski. Quite remarkably, Gina Rosa is no longer unduly troubled by those arthritic knees which influenced a premature retirement by her previous owners midway through her four-year-old season. Despite winning seven of 14 starts at three including the D.B. Export Fillies’ Final in 1:58.7, and the Great Northern Oaks by six lengths in 3:26.8 (mobile 2700 m), both record times, Gina Rosa’s racing days appeared numbered when injections were frequently used to free up the area. “I have done away with the injections since,” said Smolenski. “We just paint iodine on her knees twice a week and she hasn’t give us any further problems.”