MET FINAL FIELD POST YOUR VIEWS!

Surfin USA for me.

CAPE GUINEAS winner Le Drakkar is to avoid a clash with the mighty Pocket Power in the J & B Met in Cape Town on Saturday week and instead go for the Cape Derby on the same Kenilworth card.

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer, who had been keeping his options open, said: "I feel that I should keep Le Drakkar to his own age group because he is not bred to get the ten furlongs of the Met and the Cape Derby, although I think he will stay the trip.

"If he can pull it off on Saturday week, then he can take on the older horses in the Durban July."

Pocket Power, bidding for a historic third consecutive win in the Met, is a 4-5 chance with most local bookmakers and has 15 rivals. His biggest danger on form, the British-bred Dancer's Daughter, has the more difficult draw [13] - four from the outside with Pocket Power drawn ten.

The champion's Leicester-born trainer Mike Bass said: "That's just about a perfect draw because it means Bernard Fayd'herbe can go either way and he should be able to take up a good position."

Bass, who runs four in the race, is less happy about Pocket Power's full sister River Jetez being drawn 14 and said: "This means she will probably lose a few lengths at the off.

agree with you slyvester, grabbed some 50/1 before the midmar, flew down, led him in and now mj who is riding him at work says that he is now better than he was then. Cant wait. See you all on course on met day

Gold Circle wishes to advise that the final field for the 2009 J&B Met has been published without a jockey allocated to Vision Of Grandeur (saddlecloth 7). The background to this temporary omission arises from a joint appeal by the owner of Vision Of Grandeur, Mr Hassen Adams and his engaged jockey, Andrew Fortune, to the National Horseracing Authority, against a weight increase from 56kg to 57kg imposed upon Vision Of Grandeur. The outcome of the appeal is pending.



The appeal, which is to be heard in Johannesburg on Friday 23 January 2009, arises out of the National Horseracing Authority’s Licensing Board’s decision to enforce the terms of Jockey Andrew Fortune’s jockey’s licence, which restricts him to a minimum riding weight of 57kgs. Vision Of Grandeur was allotted a weight of 56 kgs when the final J&B Met field was announced. At final declaration Gold Circle was obliged, in view of Jockey Fortune’s engagement to ride the horse and in terms of his licence as regards his minimum allowable riding weight, to raise the weight to be carried by Vision Of Grandeur to 57kgs, subject to owner Mr Hassen Adams confirming Jockey Fortune’s engagement with the imposition of this increase in weight.



As further background, on 13 January 2009 Jockey Andrew Fortune requested that the Licensing Committee allow him to ride in the J&B Met on 31 January 2009 at the allotted weight of 56kgs. The Licensing Committee met on 16 January 2009 and after taking into account Jockey Fortune’s restriction of 57kgs and on examining his records over the past few months, declined his request to ride in the J&B Met at 56kgs. Mr Hassen Adams, in his capacity as the owner of Vision Of Grandeur then requested that the Licensing Committee reconsider their decision to deny the application from Jockey Fortune to accept the ride on his horse in the 2009 J&B Met at 56kgs.The Licensing Board then met again on 19 January 2009 to reconsider Mr Adams’ request. The Licensing Board, after re-examining the issue, remained of the unanimous view that its original decision to decline Jockey Fortune’s application was correct. They indicated, however, that Jockey Fortune, could, with Mr Adams’ consent, accept to ride Vision Of Grandeur at 1kg overweight i.e. 57 kgs provided that this overweight was declared at the time of final declarations.



As a result of the fact that the outcome of this appeal is still pending, and in the event of the appeal failing to succeed, Mr Hassen Adams has exercised his option of nominating a replacement jockey. He has nominated Springbok and veteran Cape Champion jockey Karl Neisius as Jockey Fortune’s replacement. In the event of Jockey Neisius riding Vision Of Grandeur, the weight to be carried will be 56kgs – the weight originally allotted to Vision Of Grandeur at time of final declaration for the 2009 J&B Met.



Gold Circle apologises for any inconvenience caused and will issue a further statement once the outcome of the appeal has been made known.



ends



Gill Simpkins

Well can he do the 56

Sykvester - Cant see Surfing USA winning this. How many did he loose at short odds 4/10 etc against some really weaker horses. Royal Day etc. Doubt this horse will run a place.

It will be one of the top 3. Pocket DD or B&S - Would like PP to make history but seldom go for short priced favs. B&S and Delpeche should get on really well and I expect a huge race from the combo.

Despite the bad draw, I do not think that River Jetez can be discounted for the first four. I was going to have a small each way on her, but she is too short in the betting for me 10/1.... not value. 14's or 16's is a more realistic reflection of her chances methinks.

I dont belive dancers daughter has a chance - pace is usually too slow, which means she'll more than likely pull round the turn - similar to what she did in the paddock stakes!!! Class horse though, so wouldn't be stupid enough to leave her out the pick 6!!!

Hukky don't be surprised to see her closer than normal in this race - I won't be!

Gold Circle wishes to advise that the joint appeal to the National Horseracing Authority by Messrs Hassen Adams and Andrew Fortune, in their respective capacities as owner and engaged jockey of J&B Met runner Vision Of Grandeur(saddlecloth 7), against the enforcement of the minimum riding weight restrictions of Jockey Fortune’s licence, has been turned down. The original decision by the Licencing Committee to enforce the terms of Jockey Fortune’s licence, which restricts him to riding at a minimum weight of 57kg, thus stands.



This decision has the effect that Vision Of Grandeur will now carry his original allotted weight of 56 kgs and will be ridden by Springbok and veteran Cape Champion jockey Karl Neisius.



The full and final field will thus be:



Sc# Horse Mass MR Draw B A T Jockey Trainer

1 POCKET POWER 58.0 120 (120) 10 A B Fayd'Herbe Mike Bass

2 BUY AND SELL 58.0 113 (113) 5 A T A Delpech Sean Tarry

3 AFRICAN APPEAL 58.0 104 (104) 15 A G Cheyne Mike Bass

4 KAPIL 56.0 110 (110) 12 A F Coetzee Stan Elley

5 CATMANDU 56.0 107 (107) 6 A T G Wrogemann Andre Kirsten

6 SURFIN' USA 56.0 107 (107) 11 A P Strydom Mark Dixon

7 VISION OF GRANDEUR 56.0 104 (104) 9 B A K Neisius Darryl Hodgson

8 GREAT RHYTHM 56.0 103 (103) 4 A R Hill Herman Brown

9 FLOATYOURBOAT 56.0 101 (101) 2 A T M Byleveld Mike Bass

10 GOLDEN DICE 56.0 99 ( 99) 7 A F Anthony Darryl Hodgson

11 PRINCE ASAD 56.0 99 ( 99) 1 B A J Geroudis Geoff Woodruff

12 QUICK MILLIONS 56.0 93 ( 93) 8 B A P Botha Glen Puller

13 DANCER'S DAUGHTER 55.5 114 (114) 13 A K Shea Justin Snaith

14 IVORY TRAIL 55.5 109 (108) 16 A R Fourie Joey Ramsden

15 CASEY'S SON 55.5 101 (100) 3 A N Roebuck J Butterworth

16 RIVER JETEZ 53.5 102 (102) 14 A G Hatt Mike Bass

Couplings: (1,3,9,16) (7,10)



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Gill Simpkins

12h10 Race 1 Schweppes Handicap – 1400m

12h20 Live entertainment from the Main Stage in front of the Grandstand

12h50 Race 2 GrandWest Handicap – 1200m

13h00 Live entertainment from the Main Stage in front of the Grandstand

13h30 Race 3 Lexus Summer Juvenile Stakes (Listed) – 1000m

13h40 Pre-judging for the J&B Met Most Elegant Couple Competition, presented by Virgin Mobile, will take place alongside the Main Stage in front of the Grandstand.

14h05 Race 4 SABC 3 Open Handicap – 1600m

14h15 Live entertainment from the Main Stage in front of the Grandstand

14h45 Race 5 Investec Cape Derby - Grade 1 - 2000m

14h50 The J&B Met Most Elegant Couple Competition, presented by Virgin Mobile, will take place on the Main Stage.

14h55 The presentation of trophies for the Investec Cape Derby will take place in the Parade Ring.

15h25 Race 6 Fancourt Majorca Stakes (WFA) - Grade 1 – 1600m

15h35 The presentation of trophies will take place in the Parade Ring.

15h45 Introduction of J&B Met Jockeys in the Parade Ring.

16h00 J&B Met runners leave the Parade Ring

16h20 Race 7 J & B Met - Grade 1 – 2000m

16h35 The presentation of the J&B Met Trophy will take place on the Main Stage.

17h05 Race 8 SABC Sport Handicap – 1400m

17h15 Best Dressed Marquee announcement

17h50 Race 9 tabGOLD Handicap – 1200m

18h00 The draw for the WPOTA Raffle winner will take place in the Parade Ring.

18h35 Race 10 J&B Reserve Stayers - Grade 2 – 2800m

18h45 The presentation of trophies will take place in the Parade Ring.



In addition to the Main Stage action, roving entertainment will take place on the lawns and in the picnic areas throughout the day.



End



Gill Simpkins

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE “BALL”



Just who will be 2009’s most elegant of them all?



Throughout the world exceptional horseracing and superb fashion are inextricably linked. The J&B Met is no exception! It’s all about the best horses in the land complemented by glamour, style, partying with friends and fashion! It is no surprise therefore that one of the most popular entertainment activities on J&B Met Raceday is the hugely popular J&B Most Elegant Couple competition presented by Virgin Mobile.



This year’s theme, which is simply an indication of what to wear, is Glitz and Glam, focusing on the tantalizing party icon, the mirror ball which is central to J&B advertising globally.



Fashion spotters will be out early looking for elegantly clad couples who will receive an invitation to the pre-judging which will take place alongside the main stage at about 13h40. Only invited couples are allowed to enter so make sure you are seen by the spotters.



The competition will be hosted by television celebrity James Lennox and will showcase the sixteen top couples.



FIRST PRIZE: A trip to the beautiful island of Mauritius staying at the 4-star Le Mauricia Hotel – complete with flights, airport transfers, 7 nights accommodation, daily breakfasts and dinners, free land and non-motorised water sports, and much more, courtesy of Beachcomber and American Express Travel Services, a stylish pair of Police Sunglasses and a bottle of J&B Jet.



SECOND PRIZE: Jewellery from Alon Shina at the V&A Waterfront. Lapis lazuli, coral and 18ct gold leaf shellac hand carved bead necklace for her and a lapis lazuli sterling silver and gold money clip for him, both to the value of R20 000, a stylish pair of Police Sunglasses and a bottle of J&B Jet.



THIRD PRIZE : R10 000 worth of spectacular V&A Waterfront gift vouchers, a stylish pair of Police Sunglasses and a bottle of J&B Jet.



FOURTH PRIZE: His and Hers vouchers from The International Academy of Health and Skin Care and a bottle of J&B Jet.



BEST THEMED COUPLE: A two-night “Intimate Kruger Safari” for two people at the Tinga Private Game Lodge. The prize includes luxury accommodation, all meals and game drives, a stylish pair of Police Sunglasses and a bottle of J&B Jet.



PEOPLE’S CHOICE: R3 500 fashion gift voucher from PR & Co at the V&A Waterfront for her. R3 500 fashion gift voucher from Ben Sherman at the V&A Waterfront for him and a bottle of J&B Jet.



Pre judging takes place alongside the Main Stage at about 13:40, while the J&B Most Elegant Couple Competition presented by Virgin Mobile, takes place on the Main Stage at 14h45.



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Gill Simpkins