JILL SMOLENSKI MAKES STRONG CONTRIBUTION
Burnham trainer Mark Jones considered his eighth training win for the season a bonus after In Like Magic scored a deserved win in the Travelsmart Garden City Trot at Addington on Friday, October 15.
“Jill Smolenski came to work for me about six weeks ago and brought In Like Magic with her,” Mark said.
“She works in the mornings and is an asset to the stable. She works fast and has us all busy keeping up with her,” he said.
Jill doesn’t have her own training licence, so In Like Magic was officially transferred to the Mark Jones stable.
Mark advanced to 98 career training wins with the win.
“The track at Methven at her previous start didn’t really suit her, but she still ran fourth, and it was no surprise to see her win at Addington,” Mark said.
In Like Magic, a consistent 6YO Armbro Invasion mare, had won first-up since being transferred to the Jones team at Timaru on September 19. Her maiden win came at Addington in August last year when in the stable of Jill’s brother, Mark Smolenski.
She is from Conjure Up, an unraced Cam’s Trickster mare from Delpelo, an Armbro Del mare whose four trot wins all came as a 6YO in the 1977-78 season when trained by Jill’s father, Jack Smolenski.
Delpelo was a consistent producer at stud, leaving nine winners including the 1999 NZ 3YO Trotter of the Year Flame Up, the winner of eight in NZ for West Melton trainer Nigel McGrath including the 1999 NZ 3YO Trotting Stakes.
Flame Up also numbered the 1999 Victoria Trotters Derby among his 16 Australian and USA wins, taking a 1:55.8 mile mark in North America.
Other good sons and daughters of Delpelo include Suave Guy (18 Victorian trot wins), General Jones (five pacing wins, 1:58.4f, US), Sergeant Jones (dual-gaited, one pacing, six trotting NZ wins & three in Aus), Rum And Cloves (four), Burn Up (six), Smouldering Up (three) and Doncella (four).
The latter at stud has also bred on leaving the trot winners Whatariskybizniz (five NZ wins, 1:58m US), New Year Whiz (seven wins), Fizz Pop Bang (six), and minor winners, Jayell’s Revenge, Backinmyday and New Year Pride.
In Like Magic, given a good run two and three back on the outer in her latest Addington win, finished best to beat Mystic Reign and You’re The Man in a solid 3:24.8 (2600m), the leaders last 800m in 59s.
In Like Magic unleashes a winning sprint for Jill Smolenski at Addington on October 15. (Race Images photo).