Kenilworth-Saturday J&B MET Larger than LifeX(

The Met without Mother Russia is a toss-up however she is such a top class runner that it will be hard for the others - with or without her, Bravura MUST be a big runner if he is back to his best.Even at her best, Mother Russia will be getting weary in the last 150 simply because even MDK admits that she is best over 1600-1800m.
The other runner that should be coming at them hard could be the filly Flirtation.
Pocket's got to be considered but I have the feeling that he'll be thereabouts but not quite good enough to win UNLESS the missing kick re-appears on Saturday then it could be a fantastic send off.

Bravura
Flirtation
Pocket Power
Run for it

but they of course all have to beat Mother Russia

Yes they all have to beat the Mother; and in order to do so, the other contenders will have to try something different. If they go at a sedate pace, she will kick at the 500 and it will be race over. Imo any one trying to beat her should try to make it a true pace and make her come from behind them over the final 200; imo there are only 2 horses in the race imo capable of racing handy and kicking away around the turn or at the latest coming into the straight and they are Bravura and Tales of Bravery, with Bravura probably better suited to the 2000, but having to give ToB 2 kg's may prove too much.

Run for It and Past Master are the dark horses in the race; on his last run Run For It comfortably holds some of the lessor lights like Fort Vogue and Lion in Winter, but whether the 5 .5 kg's he receives from MR and ToB is enough to beat them only the race will show, but I won't be surprised to see him running on into the places. Even if he stays, Past Master seems to be feeling something, but at best he surely comes into the race having comfortably beaten the ill-fated Noordhoek Flyer over 1600 - while Bravura just had 1/2 length to spare over NF over 2000.

Those are the top 5 imo - and while Mother Russia certainly deserves to be favorite, I think the 12/1 about Tales of Bravery represents good value - especially if his replacement rider can get him handy from the jump.

By DT

Joey Ramsden continued to be very pleased with the preparations of his J&B Met pair Bravura and Lion In Winter.



He has many runners on the day and kindly gave ‘A’ (big runner) ‘B’ (chance) or ‘C’ (hopeful) ratings for all of them.



Ramsden said, “Bravura (A) has come on from his run in the Premiers (where he finished a staying on third). Since then we gave him a mini race, with starting stalls and the works at Kenilworth, against some of our better handicappers and he performed impressively.



Bravura is a lazy workhorse and Ramsden continued, “I have worked him on the treadmill, as that forces him to do some work, and as a specimen I would say he is looking fantastic, the best I’ve ever had him.”



Ramsden said of Grade 2 Peninsula (1800m) winner, Lion In Winter (, “He is doing fine. We have gone quiet on him since that last run.”



Of his four runners in the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby, he said, “We have declared half-cups for Il Saggiatore (A) to help him get into the race earlier. He worked very well before last Saturday’s meeting at Kenilworth and will relish the trip.”



“Lucky Moon ( ran very well in a Novice Plate last time over 1400m. I’ve been guilty of running him incorrectly as I’ve realised now that he’s actually wanting a trip.”



“Orchard House (AB) is better than rated.”



“Make My Grey (C) was poorly ridden last time over course and distance, running wide all the way. I’m not sure whether he stays 2000m.”



In the first over 1400m, Ramsden runs three-year-old Al Masri (C) and Shadow In The Wind ( and said, “Al Masri has a fine draw and strong recent form, but I’m worried that he’s handicapped out of it at this level. Shadow In The Wind is a smashing horse and is doing extremely well at home. He ran a good race last time behind Nysean Bolt, who is being touted as a Derby winner.”



In the second over 1400m he has In Like Flynn (A) and said, “She has had a busy time of it but has held her form exceptionally well. The 1700m might have just been a touch too far for her last time and Glen Hatt reckoned he might have let her run a stride too freely. She was left in front a long way from home.”



In the eighth over 1200m, he has four runners, and Ramsden said, “Shades Of Indigo (A) is an exposed handicapper, but is perfectly suited to 1200m. He pulled up well from his last start and comes good at this time of the year. “



“Copper Parade (A) ran a very good race last time against older handicappers and could turn the form around with Shades Of Indigo at the weights.”



“Dead Cert (C) is maturing but might need one run.”



“I am running Costsaver (C) back to his pedigree.”



In the ninth over 1200m, Ramsden runs Grey Rose (C) and he said, “She looks too high in the handicap.”



He has two runners in the Grade 2 J&B Reserve Stayers over 2800m, Predestination (A), who appears to love it the further they go, and Hawk’s Eye (. He said, “Predestination is coming right at the right time. Hawk’s Eye is very well suited by the conditions of the race and is well in at the weights. The 2800m might just be too far for him, but if he can settle he could get it.”




Greg Ennion has a strong hand in the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby on J&B Met day with his pair Mystic Moon and Nysean Bolt and his mare Sangria Girl also has a chance of defending her Grade 2 J&B Reserve Stayer’s Crown.



“All three are very, very well,” said Ennion. “They have had good preparations and their work has been exceptional.”



Ennion finished one-two in the Listed Politician Stakes over 1800m on L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate day with Mystic Moon and Nysean Bolt, who are three-year-old geldings by Victory Moon and Nysean respectively.



They will now both be 3kg worse off with Solo Traveller, whom they beat by 1,75 lengths and 0,5 lengths respectively.



Ennion said, “It has been rumoured that Solo Traveller was not ready for the Politician Stakes, but neither were Mystic Moon and Nyseasn Bolt. It is a Derby Trial race and most of the runners were not ready.”



Ennion added, “Neither of my pair have question marks over the trip and this is unlike Solo Traveller, the short-priced favourite.”



Ennion said that Nyseasn Bolt would probably even prefer further than 2000m.



He continued, “Both of them are spot on. Karl Neisius said that Nysean Bolt had improved tremendously from his last run.”



He said of his gallant mare, the huge Sangria Girl, who was an impressive winner of her last start against the girls in a Listed event over 2400m, "She is absolutely spot on. Richard Fourie rode her work the other day and said he couldn’t believe the length of her stride. She has proved she can carry weight and although she was beaten by some of these runners earlier in the season she now has a weight turnaround with all of them.”



Pocket Power has his last run on Saturday in the J&B Met so there are sure to be a few poignant moments for all of the Mike Bass yard, jockey Bernard Fayd’herbe, owners Marsh Shirtliff and Arthur and Rina Webber and the general racing public, to whom he has given so much.



For BoyBoy Jevu, Pocket’s beloved groom, it might be a tad harder, knowing that a month after the Met the horse will depart for retirement to his regular work rider Belinda Haytread’s Constantia smallholding.



A magnum of vintage 2006 Shiraz from Zandvliet, the breeders of Pocket Power, rests on the mantle piece in the Bass’ Kenilworth box and will be cracked open after the race.



The great Champion as well as the breeder will be toasted long into the night.



Before leaving the box last Saturday night after the yard’s fantastic success in the Grade 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship, Bass called Fayd’herbe over, showed him the wine and suggested how sweet it would taste if Pocket won.



However, Bass is philosophical about Pocket Power’s chances, and said on Tuesday at his Milnerton yard that he thought he could run a place and would be happy if he did.



Pocket Power did a workout over 1400m on the cinders track on Tuesday and will have a sprint up today (Thursday).



Bass was very happy with his preparation.



“I think Mother Russia will be hard to beat,” he said. “Run For It might well be up to the task too and Tales Of Bravery must have a chance.”



Candice Robinson kindly gave all of the yard’s runners on the day a rating of either ‘A’ (big runner), ‘B’ (chance) or ‘C’ (hopeful).



On their Grade 1 runners, she said, “Pocket Power (A) is looking better than he did before the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and will prefer this trip. Super Storm (C) would be my next choice. He’s an improving four-year-old and suited to the trip, but unfortunately he’s very widely drawn. Fort Vogue (C) has been disappointing. He travels like a winner, but then doesn’t go on with his run. We will fit a tongue tie for the first time. Rushing Wind (C) is very versatile. He has never been the trip but has won over 1800m and is always running on at the finish.”



“Love Is In The Air (A) is the filly to beat in the Klawervlei Majorca. She had a hiccup in her prep before the TBA Paddock Stakes and has come on from that run. Everything has gone well in her prep so far this time. Covenant (A- is very good but there is a question mark over the trip. We galloped her over a mile and Karl reckons she will stay – if she does she has a big chance. Sunsational (C) is in good shape but is probably just off this class. She could run into the back end of the money.”



“Our Investec Cape Derby runner Castlethorpe (B-C) is a beautiful mover and has a beautiful pedigree. Unfortunately he’s very coltish and is haemo-concentrating and that might be why he doesn’t go on with his runs. We will geld him after the Derby.”



Robinson said of the pair in the first over 1400m, “Brown Penny (A) has improved since gelding and although he’d prefer a mile he has a good turn of foot so if the pace is on he will be alright. Shimmering Flame (A) is ultra consistent and this is his best trip.



Regarding the second race over 1400m, she said, “Scarlet Sky ( has ability. The 1400m might be a touch sharp. She has a money chance. Light The Moon (C) ran a better race last time, but this a better field. She has a small place chance.



They have a strong coupling in the fourth over 1600m and she said, “They are both above average and could even finish one-two. Captain’s Secret (A) went way too hard in the Queen’s Plate. League of Honour beat him before that and is the one to beat again. Kiss Again (A) is doing well.”



Captain Thriller ( runs in the eighth over 1200m. “He ran last weekend over 1000m and will prefer this distance.”



In the ninth, over 1200m, they run Keyra (. “It’s her first run after a rest and the 1200m is a bit sharp for her and she has a big weight, but she’s working well and could surprise.”

Hi Gentlemen

My best on the card :

LOVE IS IN AIR
FLIRTATION X(

J&B Prediction:
MDK Needed a pace maker for the race , if he did not have one ...none of the horses we fancy , would even place!!!
So he got Rudra In the race ...yippy!!!! to set the pace for Mother russia and Flirtation to run on

Last year winner River Jetez J&B Met came from the paddock stakes G1 , Well three of those horses last year came in 1st , 2nd , 4th
This year only one horse comes from that race ....Yes ...Flirtation Boyz...And with draw 5 and Champion Jockey Delpach , MDK's King Pin...I dont see nothing wrong ....Like the summer cup / Flirtation to beat Mother russia ...Like to see PP for third...and fourth the field

StephenP Wrote:

---

> Hi Gentlemen
>
> My best on the card :
>
> LOVE IS IN AIR
> FLIRTATION X(
>
> J&B Prediction:
> MDK Needed a pace maker for the race , if he did
> not have one ...none of the horses we fancy ,
> would even place!!!
> So he got Rudra In the race ...yippy!!!! to set
> the pace for Mother russia and Flirtation to run
> on
>
> Last year winner River Jetez J&B Met came from
> the paddock stakes G1 , Well three of those horses
> last year came in 1st , 2nd , 4th
> This year only one horse comes from that race
> ....Yes ...Flirtation Boyz...And with draw 5 and
> Champion Jockey Delpach , MDK's King Pin...I dont
> see nothing wrong ....Like the summer cup /
> Flirtation to beat Mother russia ...Like to see PP
> for third...and fourth the field

This is what makes analyzing races so interesting; I can't see Flirtation running into the first 5 off these weights (I did select her as the Summer Cup winner) and regarding PP, it saddens me to say that I don't think he can run in the first 5 either - I guess we will see on Saturday

Too True Frodo....

Wellcome to ABC Steve:)

Loving this thread guys X(

thanks GREG:)-D

if you predicting this race by weight ....Then you got take Run for it!! Who is best weighed in the race ...though it is a three year old


I also had flirtation on Summer cup day ...coined it ()

MDK, He knws what his doing..., I was reading yesterday's Citizen Mollies article.....and along the lines a bookmaker
Can tell you put your money on a favourite Mother Russia ...GEE RIGHT !!!....And he thinks his bank balance is still going to look pretty after telling you what to back

It is going to be a very good race .....I hope the boyz make it and crack it

BRAVURA????

Welcome to the forum Stephen,make sure you have a bash at the Luyt Lager comp(tu)

Stephen, best weighted in the race is actually Past Master (but his rating has been achieved over a sprint) followed by Mother Russia and Tales of Bravery - and not Run For It - anyway break a leg with your selection(tu)

thanks FRODO

will keep your message in my thoughts when the break through the gates on saturday ....good luck