Finishing speed the key to Pocket Power

Racingpost.com

POCKET POWER'S regular rider Bernard Fayd'herbe believes that one of the keys to the South African legend's record-breaking success is his phenomenal finishing speed.

The veteran won his fourth successive Queen's Plate at Kenilworth last time and bids to win the J&B Met for a fourth occasion next time.

Fayd'herbe, who was speaking at a press morning at trainer Mike Bass's stables on the old Milnerton racecourse in Cape Town on Thursday, said: "Most good horses can run the last 400 metres of a race in 23 seconds but Pocket Power will do it in 22.4 seconds."

He also revealed that the three-time horse of the year is a particularly difficult ride.

"Pocket Power has a mind of hisown and he is claustrophobic. He has to be loaded last and then he crashes into the stalls.

"He gets away fast but he soon drops right back and when we come into the straight he doesn't want to go. I can give him a couple of slaps down the shoulder but it's not until I change my reins and hold him tight that he quickens. The moment he gets to the front he eases up. He always rises to the occasion but I can never be confident beforehand that I'm going to win."

Bass is hoping that Air Combat will make the cut for the J & B Met on January 30 so that Pocket Power is assured of a decent pace in his bid to win the famous race for the fourth successive year.

He said: "A good pace is important to bring out the best in a good horse and a slow one can get him beaten."

The latter played a big part in Pocket Power managing only a fast-finishing fifth in last year's Durban July - he had won the race the previous season, dead-heating with Dancer's Daughter. He won his fourth Queen's Plate over a mile last Saturday and has an extra two furlongs to cover in the Met but Bass believes he is almost equally good over any trip.

He added: "He would win over a mile and a half and sometimes I think I might run him in the GoldCup over two miles!"

I have said it before and I'll say it again.....

PP can win over 2 miles, in fact I once suggested to the Bass stable on Facebook that the ideal race for PP would be the Melbourne Cup......If he was a tad younger.

He does his own thing during the races but does not expend any unnecessary effort, until it is time to run!!!

He really is a magnificent animal and we are truly lucky to have had such a character run on our courses!!!

If I had to punt anything to beat him in the Met I would just not punt!!!!!

Simple really..............

Was actually thinking that the other day Tommy,that the Gold cup would be a Crowning,call me mental!!

Great minds think alike my boy, great minds think alike!!!!

Now if we can only plan world domination........mmmwwuuaaahhh, mmwwuuuaahhhh

Nothing to lose Tommy,unless they are looking for another couple of campaigns?

Just noticed the champ has never one by a gap in his career,biggest winning distance 2 1/4L..