Another Jaccka wins

Harness racing breeders Charlie and Alisa Smaill enjoyed trotting success once again, at Gore today (Feb. 19). 

Joy Jaccka (Creatine) impressively won on debut at Ascot Park earlier in the month, and today Julie Jaccka (Father Patrick) won for the Riversdale couple on their home track.

Trained by Brett Gray and driven by Brent Barclay the three year old filly lead for a short time in the race but she ran most of the trip three back on the inside. Coming off the final bend Barclay took her up to leader Gentle Mac (Majestic Son) and the two were locked in a stellar battle all the way up the long Gore track. Julie Jaccka just got there by a nose.

Smaill says the Father Patricks are now starting to kick some goals after a relatively quiet start to his stud career in New Zealand.

JULIE JACCKA REPLAY

Up until recently the Smaills have had a quiet patch so they’re enjoying their recent run of success.

“I was getting a wee bit concerned that I hadn’t been going to the right sires because the next generation didn’t seem to be carrying on. We’re starting to come right now though,” Charlie said.

“I quite like them. They’re very tractable horses and I have one or two of them now. Unfortunately I lost one out of the old mare, (Janine Jaccka) a brother to Joy (Jaccka).”

The Smaills also recently lost Jess Jaccka who’d won five races, (Continentalman) and was a daughter of Janine Jaccka.

“We lost her at foaling time. Interestingly enough Jen Jaccka had a foal by Elite Stride inside of her and she slipped it and she had enough milk in her to feed Jess’s foal.”

After years of being in the breeding and stud business Charlie says he and Ailsa are scaling back.

“We’re just in the process of leasing our property to our son. Sometimes the body tells you it’s a good thing but other days your get a bit sad about it. But I keep saying that this is the next stage of life. I haven’t done anything for the last six months and I’ve been asked about the warrant on my cart but I’m not using it at the moment. I’m not saying it will stay that way but it’s looking like it at the moment.” 

Foundation mare of the Smaill’s trotting dynasty Janine Jaccka (Sundon) is now twenty, but Smaill says she or her daughter have left the winners of close to fifty races.

“We didn’t breed from her last year but after the way Joy Jaccka went the other day I think I’ll try to get her in foal next season.”

The Smaills have plenty of Jaccka’s to go on with and one that Charlie is most excited about is Jaccka Ace, a Father Patrick colt out of nine win mare Jen Jaccka (CR Commando).

“I saw him on the track and thought ’I quite like the look of that.’ I liked the way he trotted and behaved himself. He’s always been a very quiet horse and the breed isn’t normally like that.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink