J J The Jet Plane back home in style
Report: South Africa, Saturday
Scottsville: Golden Horse Casino Sprint (Grade 1) 6f, turf 3yo+
J J The Jet Plane (Lucky Houdalakis/Piere Strydom) celebrated his return to South African racing byproving much too good for the opposition in the Golden Horse Casino Sprint on Saturday.
He was third in last year's July Cup and fourth in the Golden Jubilee but his British campaign was still something of an anti-climax, particularlyas the owners split with Mike de Kock part way through.
The 11-2 chance, winner of this Grade 1 Scottsville sprint two years ago, was fast away and soon in front.
It was obvious nothing could get near him from overa furlong out and he came home two lengths clear of 25-1 shot Rushing Wind without Piere Strydom having to touch him with his whip.
Strydom said: "I had my reservations when I saw him because I thought he was looking a little bitbig and I was a bit worried when he came out of the gates so quickly.
"Even though I was right up there, I said to myself ‘I've got to sit and wait because he hasn't run for such a long time. ‘ He tired a little bit at the end but you've got to expect that with him being off for so long."
It was the gelding's first run since finishing ninth behind Sayif in Ascot's Diadem Stakes eight months earlier, and trainer and part-owner Lucky Houdalakis was overjoyed.
He said: "I don't believe he was at peak fitness today but, with no disrespect to the rest of them here, he was not running against what he ran against overseas.
"It's nice to have him back and I'm so chuffed, as well as relieved."
The Mercury Sprint at Clairwood on July 18 is now an obvious target for the horse.
Also on Saturday
Scottsville: Allan Robertson Championship (Grade 1) 6f, turf, 2yo fillies
Chocolicious (Herman Brown/Johnny Geroudis) sprang a 55-1 shock in the first two-year-old Grade 1 race of the season.
The daughter of the Ed Dunlop and Saeed bin Suroor-trained Kahal took it up a furlong out and then came again to beat Strydom's mount Waywest Goddess by half a length.
Geroudis, a late replacement for the sidelined Raymond Danielson, said: "Chocolicioushas a lot of ability and she is not going to stop here.
"When I really asked her, she gave me a good kick. Piere went past me but my filly dug deep and regained the lead."
Mike de Kock's Mahbooba started 7-2 favourite and patently found the trip too short. She was tapped for speed early but ran on strongly in the final furlong to finish third.
Scottsville: Gold Reef Resorts Medallion (Grade 1) 6f, turf, 2yo
Mike De Kock's highly regarded Kavanagh started at 13-20 but failed to justify his star billing.
He moved up like a winner a furlong and a half out but could find little more and was beaten into fourth behind 9-1 shot Link Man (Dennis Drier/Alec Forbes). The winner is by the former Aidan O'Brien-trained Toreador.
Forbes said: "I was always travelling very well, two furlongs out I thought I had a big chance and with a furlong to go I knew the race belonged to me."
Drier added: "I thought that this was one of the strongest Medallions I've seen for a hell of a long time but I was bullish about Link Man and I'm thrilled to have won."
Scottsville: South African Fillies Sprint (Grade 1) 6f, turf, 3yo+ f/m
Piere Strydom initiated a notable Grade 1 double when the Sean Tarry-trained Captain's Gal, a 13-2 chance, got the better of the former Tommy Stack-trained Gibraltar Blue close home to score by a neck.
Gibraltar Blue, now with De Kock, broke fast and went on just under two furlongs out but the age differential - she met the others on six months worse than weight-for-age terms - told in the closing stages, particularly against the winner who is a four-year-old.
Val De Ra, not extended in five previous starts, was a length and a quarter back third.
Tarry said: "We decided to raid with Captain's Gal from our Johannesburg stables because our Durban yard isn't quite right, and it's paid dividends."
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