Masterful. Sean Cormack poses as Master Of My Fate cruises home to win the Gr2 Premier Trophy (Equine Edge)
Shades of his brilliant sire! There was much reminiscing and reflection back to the ill fated champion Jet Master, as his outstanding son Master Of My Fate blew his opposition away in the R300 000 Gr2 Premier Trophy at Kenilworth on Saturday, to announce his arrival as a serious racehorse.
For many of those of us fortunate to have enjoyed some of Jet Master’s performances in the flesh, there was a shiver up the spine moment at the 300m marker, as Sean Cormack gave the big colt his head.
With that trademark splash of paint on his majestic head, more liberally coated than his Dad’s branding, an elastic stride carried him clear as Master Of My Fate ran all the way to the line. His jockey said afterwards that he was ‘speechless.’
Interestingly, Jet Master only won up to a mile during his illustrious career, but this fellow looks to have the 2000m of the Met well within his golden compass.
While in no serious hurry, Brown Penny led the pack from Hill Fifty Four and No Worries, who was fighting his rider early.
For most of the trip Master Of My Fate was loping along six lengths off the leaders, just a length adrift of One Cool Dude.
Brown Penny led into the home run with Striker Strydom steering No Worries the short way home as he slipped the Kahal gelding down the inside rail, with what looked a menacing and possible winning effort.
But the time bomb was ticking. With Hill Fifty Four still in the mix, Cormack gave Master Of My Fate his cue and the lovely colt exploded into the lead in a heartbeat, as he left the rest for dead.
In Good Hands. Dennis Drier plotting a 2014 J&B Met win
In an impressive performance, Master Of My Fate drew clear to win by 1,75 lengths in a time of 112,10 secs.
Hill Fifty Four stayed on tamely for second after being in contention for most of the trip. The Marshall stable and their jockey MJ Byleveld’s dry run of frustrating seconds, and no winners since Valdivia on 20 November, continued.
Mike Bass’ Paterfamilias, who ran in the sponsor’s silks, maintained his recent improvement with a powerful late run for third, while Dean Kannemeyer would have been thrilled with Hot Ticket’s effort from last to fourth in the final 400m.
Stan Elley would also have been pleased to witness the finishing effort of his Silvano gelding Punta Arenas, who made up many lengths in the straight from his poor draw to finish well for a 4,30 length eighth.
Horses who had every chance, but failed to spark to expectations, included:
Duncan Howells’ One Cool Dude,who finished fifth and 3,75 lengths off. Kevin Shea gave him every chance, but he failed to kick on when pressed. It wasn’t a shocker though, and may deserve another chance.
Justin Snaith’s Run For It, who finish sixth and 4,15 lengths off. He remains an enigmatic talent, whose prime ability stays at home most days.
Gavin Van Zyl’s No Worries, who finished ninth and 4,40 lengths off. Piere Strydom gave him every chance, and when he ghosted down the inside rail at the 400m marker, he could have gone on to win it. But he just wasn’t good enough on the day.
But Master Of My Fate made up for the whole lot. He came, he saw and he conquered, in so doing silencing his detractors and thrilling his supporters.
He has now won 5 of his 6 starts and has only been beaten once, when running second on his Clairwood 1200m debut.
Bred by Varsfontein Stud, Master Of My Fate is by Jet Master out of the brilliant six time winning Elliodor mare, Promisefrommyheart. She was trained by Geoff Woodruff in her racing career, and peaked with a victory in the 2004 Gr1 Triple Tiara 1600, beating the brilliant Ilha Da Vitoria.
Promisefrommyheart won from 1200m to 2000m.
Master Of My Fate was the top priced colt of the 2011 National Yearling Sale. He was knocked down to the late Andrew Papageorgiou for R3 million.
Trainer Dennis Drier confirmed that the J&B Met was Master Of My Fate’s immediate target and the reason he had made the trip to the Cape.
We wouldn’t be surprised to see him line up in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate either, as Saturday’s win was not an overly stressful exercise gallop.
