Jet Belle will be ridden by Anton Marcus
b The daughter of Jet Master won the race last year and with the services of Anton Marcus for the first time, she could well strike the double.
The Gold Bracelet is a weight-for-age race with penalties and Jet Belle looks well in. The field does not lack for quality, but there are also no superstars lining up.
Versatile
Jet Belle is a versatile and gallant performer and may well be headed for the Drakenstein Stud paddocks, making this a possible farewell performance.
A stakes winner from 1160m to 2000m, Jet Belle adds further to that incredible record – having been placed at Gr1 level up to 2450m.
Glen Kotzen – looking to start the new season with a bang
Glen Kotzen went on record on the Gold Circle website last week, suggesting his charge had found the right field to score an eighth win from 24 starts.
“Her sprint (Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m) was an incredible run, she was awfully unlucky as she couldn’t get a run three times, she should have possibly won. Obviously we were disappointed with her run in the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes (4,6 length 7th over 1600m at Greyville) last time. She ran a bit of a flat race and we pulled a blood, but nothing was untoward. But she is flying at home, so I can’t really explain that below par run. She’s doing exceptionally well and we’ve got Anton Marcus up and I think it’s the right field for her,” he said.
Chance At Best
Joey Soma’s Athina – will be some value if putting it together
Piere Strydom takes the ride on the topweighted Athina, who has been little disappointing at her two most recent starts.
The daughter of Fort Wood finished over 16 lengths behind Bichette in the Camellia Stakes (too short probably?) and then ran 22 lengths back in the Cup Trial – after being slow away and reported coughing.
While Joey Soma must be pulling his hair out and she has not won in over a year, it is worth noting her best performances against top-class opposition earlier on. That includes a Gr1 win as a 3yo.
Strydom was aboard at her best recent effort – a flying second to Inara in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes, way back on L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate day. If she is anywhere near her better form, she cannot be excluded.
Tarry’s Two
Sean Tarry’s smart Australian-bred Dubaawi mare Amber Orchid has not seen Greyville since shedding her maiden at the track close on three years ago.
Amber Orchid stays on powerfully to win the Jacaranda
The Gr3 Jacaranda Handicap winner is in fine current form and confirmed her well-being with a good Pinnacle win last time.
Her stablemate Enchanted Silk is no slouch but disappointed in her prep run last weekend at Greyville when fading out when 9 lengths behind Pecan Nut in the Listed Off To Stud Stakes. If she runs here, she would have had quite a bit of racing of late.
Joey Ramsden’s Listed East Coast Cup winner Gallica Rose was an unlucky loser in the Gold Circle Oaks where she flew late to be beaten narrowly by Gold Cup contender, Ash Cloud.
The daughter of Silvano is a course and distance winner who likes to run at them late – so her wide draw should only be a minimal inconvenience.
Gr1 Winner
Weiho Marwing’s 2yo Gr1 winner Bilateral is held by Gallica Rose on her 0,75 length second in the East Coast Cup. The daughter of Lateral has failed to find the winner’s enclosure in over a year.
Justin Snaith
Justin Snaith’s Acrostar is not well drawn at 12 after having finished 7,25 lengths back in an ultra-strong Gr 1 Garden Province Stakes last time out.
Snaith is on record,saying: “She is better suited to this sort of distance and in the Garden Province she had to drop out to last and ran on strongly at the end, but the race was over. I’m hoping this is a much weaker race and just to get into the first three. She’s had no luck in the Durban season, so we’re just hoping for some sort of black type to add to her already good career.”
The 3yo’s Zante (a good run in the Woolavington behind Smart Call), Estidraaj and Patchit Up Baby have fair recent form and are fit and capable of threatening.
Closing
This is quite a tough closing leg for the bumper Super Saturday Pick 6.
Jet Belle looks to have plenty in her favour, but is she a banker? She has the class and ability and she is the choice to hold a possible value galloper in Athina, with Gallica Rose and Amber Orchid for minor money.
