David Thiselton – Gold Circle Publishing
The J&B Met gallops made a welcome return to the big race build up at Kenilworth Racecourse yesterday (Thursday) and there was a fair turnout of horses, although all of them ran well within themselves.
A champagne breakfast was put on for owners and other dignitaries, while the all important big race draw was conducted after the gallops.
The Mike de Kock-trained favourite Mother Russia and her fancied stablemate Flirtation, who are the only two females in the race, were first out and cantered from the 1200m mark.
Mother Russia was the most visually impressive horse of the morning, visibly pricking her ears and quickening when she saw the straight ahead of her.
The pair later received great draws of eight and five respectively.
Mike de Kock, who spoke live from Dubai, allayed fears about Mother Russia seeing out 2000m, pointing out that she had wasted energy in a false start before being caught late in last year’s J&B Met and revealing that she was not at peak fitness when stopping late in this season’s Sansui Summer Cup.
Mother Russia also won a Grade 2 Weight For Age race at Greyville over 2000m when with Joey Ramsden, beating River Jetez.
Pocket Power worked with Super Storm and both looked in good shape.
Mike Bass was thrilled with Pocket Power’s draw of three and revealed that he might not have had the great horse perfectly right for the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. Bernard Fayd’herbe said he had been pleased with the Queen’s Plate run and reckoned he would definitely have come on for it. Both he and Bass said 2000m would be more to Pocket Power’s liking these days.
Bass’s Fort Vogue put in pleasing work. Given a lead by Investec Cape Derby contender, Castlethorpe, he made up the deficit effortlessly and finished well, although both ran within themselves.
Super Storm drew widest of all in 17, while Fort Vogue got a nice draw of seven. Bass’s fourth runner Rushing Wind, who drew pole position, wasn’t at the gallops as he runs in the Grade1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship on Saturday.
The Vaughan Marshall-trained Tales Of Bravery did a very gentle workout under big race jockey MJ Byleveld, but strode out well and looked in great shape. He drew wide at 16.
The Dean Kannemeyer pair In Writing and Last Regal strode out nicely, although well within themselves, and then drew six and twelve respectively.
The Stephen Page-trained Cask cantered for 800m. He is not a horse who takes a lot of work. Page said he was ideally suited to Kenilworth’s new course and reckoned he had a definite place chance. He drew eleven, which was not too bad.
The Glen Kotzen-trained Paddy O’Reilly looked to be enjoying his workout with the Investec Cape Derby hopeful Code Rock, although they didn’t give much away. Paddy O’Reilly got a fine draw of four and could earn a place if he breaks on terms.
The only three-year-old in the race, the Justin Snaith-trained Run For It, is a difficult horse, so did not attend, while Joey Ramsden’s Bravura was not there for the same reason.
The Yvette Bremner-trained Celtic Fire was still in Port Elizabeth, Rudra was recuperating from his journey from Gauteng and Lion In Winter and Past Master also did not attend.
Dean Diedericks has done a fine job with the track and some fine racing can be looked forward to next weekend as well as tomorrow.
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