As Mike Bass posts on his web which horses comes down for the KZN season, is there infomation out as to whiche horses Drier has taken besides the ones that have had their runs, and the ones this week??
Mint Master doddled home that day, but Drier horses seem to need their firts runs< although General won aon Sat, if it was teh new course he would have been beaten as he was stopping qucikly and just held on.
equus award winning david thistelton wrote an article about his string in the cape....mint master a net 71 I see if the reverse was to happen he wouldn't be allowed into the province that is named after the Melbourne cup winner of 2014
Dennis Drier’s Cape Summer Of Champions season has got rolling later than usual due to a hiccup many horses in his string experienced upon arrival and he is now grateful for more than one reason to have travelled to Cape Town earlier than usual.
Drier’s big classic hopeful Generalissimo was hugely impressive again on Saturday when leading from pillar to post against a classy Graduation Plate field over 1200m under stable jockey Sean Cormack and in the process he lowered the course Kenilworth record from 69,54 seconds to 69,51 seconds.
Drier is hopeful the Var colt will see out 1600m despite his speed and said, “There was a tailwind on Saturday and he showed that he might just have needed it. My gut feel is that he will get the mile as he is just so relaxed.”
Indeed he did appear to tire late in the race, but had carved out a big lead in effortless fashion before that and won comfortably by 1,25 lengths.
He has drawn very well in the weight for age Gr 2 Selangor Cup over 1600m on the Kenilworth Old Course on November 22 and how he fares there will likely decide whether he has a tilt at the big one, the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas.
Drier’s string are now “totally over” the bad patch and are in rude health at his Phillippi base.
He said, “It is a blessing we left early, because they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to have run in their planned races. They’re all now eating well and working nicely.”
In fact a case of African Horse Sickness at Summerveld a week or two after the string left would have prevented them from travelling at all had they had left it much longer.
An exciting youngster from the yard, Mint Master, makes his Cape Town debut on Wednesday in a MR 76 Handicap over 1000m.
This Jet Master colt won his debut on the Greyville polytrack over 1000m by 4,25 lengths and Drier said, “He is very well. It’s the first time out the maidens, but we are hoping he runs a cracker. He has lots of natural ability and is very speedy.”
The yard’s stalwart five-year-old Jet Master mare Jet Aglow is also “very, very well.” She deserves a Gr 1 win and will take the same path that her celebrated stablemate Beach Beauty took last year, the Gr 2 weight for age (wfa) Green Point Stakes over 1600m on November 22 against the boys (where she has drawn superbly in three), followed by the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m and the Gr 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m.
However, Cormack might have a tough choice in the latter two events as they are also the target of another top class Jet Master from the yard, the four-year-old Eventual Angel. This filly has won four out of five, including a Gr 3, and makes her Cape debut on November 19 in a fillies and mares conditions plate over 1600m.
She has never gone beyond 1400m and Drier said about her chances of seeing out the 1800m of the Paddock Stakes, “We will see but she is a very relaxed, easy filly.”
His two big sprinters Guinness and Captain Of All are both back on track and being targeted at the Betting World Gr 1 Cape Flying Championship on January 24.
Drier is also going to stick to the straight for the time being with his talented Horse Chestnut filly Balkan. She runs in a Conditions Plate over 1000m on 16 November and will then be aimed at the Gr 2 Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m on December 6.
He said, “The problem after the travel lingered with her a bit, but she is now hundreds and is firing. Her work has been exceptional, phenomenal, it has just been unbelievable.”
The 1200m polytrack form of his three-year-old Western Winter gelding Knox has worked out exceptionally well and this horse qualifies for the R1 million Cape Thoroughbred Sales Book 1 Graduates race over 1200m on January 24. Drier said that this horse “shouldn’t only sprint”, so he could have a bright future.
The yard’s above average A P Answer gelding Beckedorf is “very well” and will likely be aimed at the Listed Southeaster Sprint on December 6 followed by the three-year-old feature, the Need For Speed Sprint.
Drier doesn’t know yet how good his four-year-old Jet Master filly Gathering Fame is as she has won her two starts over 1600m and 1900m on the poly very comfortably since being stepped up from sprints. However, she was one of the worst affected after the travel and might take the Cape season slowly in order that she is in top shape for the Champions Season.
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