The J&B Met - Kenilworth 1 Feb 2014

Thanks Don and Thoroughpedia Project

Jack Milner

Jackson, joint favourite at 5-2 for this year’s J&B Met, will have to jump
from barrier No 14 when the gates open for the R2.5-million race to be run
over 2000m at Kenilworth on Saturday 1 February.
It appears that none of the favourites drew too well but trainer Dennis
Drier was quite happy that co-favourite Master Of My Fate has drawn at No
9.
There was also no joy for L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Capetown Noir nor
10-1 shot Jet Explorer from the in-form Justin Snaith. They will be placed
in barriers No 10 and No 12 respectively. Trainer Gavin van Zyl must surely
think the Gods are against him as No Worries ended up widest of all in
barrier No 18.
Brett Crawford, trainer of Jackson, was philosophical about their wide
draw. “We will have to see what kind of speed there is in the race and go
from there. (Jockey) Glen (Hatt) may have to drop him out and run on at the
end. Fortunately the summer course straight is long enough to do that.”
Another who would have preferred a lower number is Karl Neisius, rider of
Capetown Noir. “We will have to work on a new strategy. Perhaps sit in and
wait for the straight.”
The Western Winter gelding has shown a distinct preference for the longer
straight of the summer course and if there is no early pace, Neisius
indicated that Capetown Noir’s blistering turn of foot may come in handy in
the finish. “I see no obvious pacemaker, except for No Worries, but having
drawn at No 18, they may also decide to drop out and wait.”
Drier, on the other hand, was over the moon. “I can’t really complain. It
could have been a lot worse!”
The low numbers all seemed to go the way of the raiders, with pole position
going to Kom Naidoo-trained Royal Zulu Warrior. Geoff Woodruff must have
popped a champagne cork when the talented Yorker drew in barrier No 2,
followed by stable companion Master Sabina next door in barrier No 3. To
complete the run of good luck for the Woodruff yard Greg Cheyne promptly
drew barrier No 5 for the diminutive Do You Remember. “I couldn’t be
happier,” said Cheyne. She has settled in and if she reproduces her form
from last year, she must be in with a very good chance.”
Derek Brugman had his head in his hands after Hill Fifty Four again drew an
outside stall ending up in barrier No 15, after jumping from barrier No 14
last year. Luckily Yogas Govender was on hand to offer some consolation,
pointing out that last year’s winner Martial Eagle had jumped from barrier
No 15.
Trainer Sean Tarry showed he has nerves of steel as he waited for Marsh
Shirtliff to draw Whiteline Fever’s spot with only barriers No 8 and No 15
still available. Luckily for Tarry, Shirliff’s luck held as the No 8 was
revealed. “He did an unbelievable job under pressure and I am delighted
with the draw,” commented Tarry.

Final field for the R2.5-million J&B Met (Grade 1) to be run over 2000m at
Kenilworth Racecourse on Saturday 1 February.

David Thiselton
Glen Kotzen said the connections had decided to run the classy Jet Master filly Jet Belle in the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m instead of the J&B Met due to her not having enjoyed an ideal preparation.
The four-year-old finished like an express train when a narrow runner up in the weight for age Grade 2 Sceptre Stakes over 1200m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Kotzen said, “She had a bit of travel sickness when she arrived from Johannesburg, so her preparation has not been ideal and in the two weeks still available it will be easier to get her ready for the 1600m of the Majorca than the 2000m of the Met.”
Jet Belle was previously with Robbie Sage and in her seasonal reappearance for him on November 12 she was the comfortable winner of a Graduation Plate over 1160m at Turffontein.
A share in her was subsequently bought by Drakenstein Stud and hence the move to the Cape yard of Kotzen, although the original owner Colin Bird still retains a share.
The term “class” in thoroughbred racing is used to describe horses that are best at classic distances, but who also have enough speed to compete with the best sprinters at their own game.
Jet Belle proved on Saturday that she deserves that tag, because as a three-year-old she finished a 0,2 length third in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 at Greyville last June, having already notched up third place finishes in both the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and the Grade 2 SA Oaks over 2450m, both at Turffontein.
The progeny of Jet Master are known to come into their own as four-year-olds, so she is likely to be a strong Grade 1 contender for the rest of the season and beyond.