Trainer Comments Flying Championship

Dave Scott
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Re: Re: Trainer Comments Flying Championship

13 years 4 months ago

#192993

J J The Jet Plane back in action at Kenilworth

BY MICHAEL CLOWER 12:03PM 20 JAN 2012

Preview: South Africa, Saturday 3pm GMT

Kenilworth: Betting World Cape Flying Championship (Grade 1) 5f, turf, 3yo+

J J The Jet Plane (Lucky Houdalakis/Bernard Fayd'Herbe) runs for the first time sincehis win in the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai almost ten months ago.

Houdalakis feared his horse had reached the end of the road when a hole developed in his near-fore tendon last April but the globe-trotting gelding made a remarkable recovery. However he faces a huge task here as he is up against the two best sprinters in the country (with the exception of himself).

Houdalakis said: "Unfortunately I couldn't give him a race before this but I have done quite abit of work with him and I think I've got him fit enough."

J J The Jet Plane had to travel nearly 900 miles in mid-week to reach Cape Town but, according to Houdalakis, he took the journey well. Houdalakis says he is better over six furlongs although the prevailing south-easter is forecast to blow diagonally up the straight at over 20mph and that should help.

Val De Ra (Dennis Drier/Alec Forbes) has only been beaten once in 11 starts and is favoured by the distance, particularly as she is quick out of the gates and is expected to try to make all.

Drier said: "I would prefer it if there isn't a wind but I won't be worried if there is. She has come on since her win here last month."

What A Winter (Mike Bass/Karl Neisius) won this last year but was beaten by Val de Ra on the only occasion they met.

Bass said: "He jumped awkwardly that day and she got away from him. But she couldhave it all her own way out in front, which is what worries me."

The race carries prize money of R600,000 (nearly £50,000) and a proposal to double it by the owners of the big three each chipping in R200,000 had to be dropped when J J The Jet Plane's connections pointed out that they could get 7-2 with the bookmakers!

What A Winter is evens favourite with most local layers and Val de Ra a 6-4 chance. It's 50-1 and upwards the other three runners.

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