Jet Jamboree – improved and ready to win his big one – even at the ripe old age of 7!
We aren’t in the habit of promoting the prospects of 7yo geldings when it comes to likely winners of R1 million rand feature races. But it is difficult not getting just a little excited about the likelihood of Mike De Broglio’s Jet Jamboree giving trainer Dom Zaki his second Gr2 Emerald Cup win after National Spirit won under a peach of a Piere Strydom ride in 2006.
While we know well that the Vaal sand track is not Piere Strydom’s favourite racecourse, he won the Emerald Cup two years running and followed that Zaki win up with a terrific ride on Narc for the Marouns in 2007.
Striking
Strydom is not without hope in 2014. He rides the top-class Whiteline Fever in his first sand attempt for Sean Tarry but the honour of steering the 2 to 1 favourite Jet Jamboree falls to his regular pilot, Gavin Lerena.
Jet Jamboree, for different reasons, but much on the lines of one of his widely drawn opponents, Anger, is a reformed character.
The handsome son of Jet Master has pulled the ace with a 1 draw and looks likely to start favourite.
He is unbeaten on the surface since gelding and goes for his fourth win on the trot. He beat Uncle Tommy by 1,25 lengths at their last clash and now meets the Marwing soldier on 1,5kgs better terms.
While he will be the first 7yo to win the race, history shows that it takes mature durability to stake a claim in this war.
Fit, in the right frame of mind, laden with ability, and perfectly drawn, it is difficult to oppose him, although there will be no quarter given.
Amended
Uncle Tommy is always there when the whips are cracking
The race is no longer a handicap and is weighted on Pinnacle bands.
The Kahal gelding Uncle Tommy is a serious sand horse and another 7yo capable of putting his best foot forward, despite his weight drag.
He lumped 63kgs last year when dashing through for third and 2,25 lengths behind In A Rush.
While he looks held by Jet Jamboree and has to contend with an 11 draw, he is an eleven-time winner and will swoop if Jet Jamboree fluffs his lines.
Carnival Time
Champion jockey Anton Marcus teams up with Charles Laird to pilot sand first-timer Rio Carnival, who has to lump 58kgs as he runs off his turf merit rating.
The Australian-bred son of Hussonet has produced quality performances on the turf but was slightly one-paced on the Greyville polytrack last time, when returning from a short rest.
A classy galloper in the hands of a powerful trainer-jockey combination suggests that Rio Carnival could be a dangerous unknown quantity.
Fever Pitch
The very capable and classy Whiteline Fever returns from a nine week break following his KZN Champions Season campaign where he didn’t spark at the level anticipated.
The son of Right Approach has his first run on sand and jumps from a positive 2 draw. Like RiO Carnival, he can only be taken on trust but it would be foolhardy to discount the combination on this surface.
More Haste
PE visitor In A Rush returns to defend his title – but looks a longshot as confirmed by his 25 to 1 odds
No horse has ever won the Emerald Cup twice and that statistic does not look in danger of being rewritten on Saturday.
Gavin Smith bravely makes the return trip from Port Elizabeth to defend the 2013 title lifted in a shock result by the Windrush gelding In A Rush.
From a 1 draw last year, he had the run of the race but will find things a lot tougher this time round from his 12 draw and with a kilo more to lumber against what seems a stronger field.
His recent hometown PE form is also not inspiring enough to suggest that he is at his best.
Sniper
Corne Spies’ Tommy Gun is another who has pulled an advantageous draw. The 4yo Sail From Seattle gelding is unbeaten on the Vaal sand, but ran a poor race when starting at odds-on last time in the far weaker realms of Kimberley.
He ran a weak fourth when beaten over 4 lengths by local campaigner Code Red, but no doubt needed the run after a five month break. His trainer will have him fitter on Saturday, but he needs to show that he can cope with the step up in class.
Sean Tarry also saddles the 8 yo Across The Ice, who has walked the Emerald Cup path a few times previously.
The eleven-time winning son of Western Winter has his 62nd start and has drawn very wide. The fact that Piere Strydom opted for Whiteline Fever is probably the best indication as to who is preferred in the coupling.
Shadow Dancing
Scott Kenny’s Shadow Line is set to run a big race
Scott Kenny’s Shadow Line announced his serious intentions as an Emerald candidate with a seriously impressive victory over the course and distance last time.
He meets Brooks-Club, who he beat there, on 4,5kgs worse terms, but interpretation of horse and rider’s body language in the finish suggests that there was plenty more to come.
He is held by Jet Jamboree on his penultimate run but looks to be peaking at just the right moment.
Pressure
The consistent Isobar got into an exciting scrap in the final stages of the August Stakes with Anger, and only went down narrowly.
He meets the Spies galloper on 1,5kgs better terms but both are poorly drawn and probably has best hopes of a place cheque.
Kum Naidoo’s Storm Surf is a course and distance winner who comes in off two well strategized victories on the Greyville polytrack, where he was shrewdly campaigned off his rather modest turf rating.
Well drawn, he will find these conditions much tougher but is a fit and happy horse who could run into the places.
Attitude
Impressive August Stakes winner Anger has reeled off five straight wins since finding his feet in a modest handicap at Flamingo Park at end June.
A horse who has adopted a whole new attitude to his racing and behaviour, he steps up in ground but has been thrown a massive curved ball of a 16 draw. He also has to find 1,5kgs on Isobar, who is drawn a few gates to his inside.
He has excellent toe and good gate speed, but those on his inside are no slouches and it would be a giant killing act of note were he to pull this off.
Further
Dark Horse. Killua Castle needs to prove his Hawaii Stakes run was all wrong
Geoff Woodruff’s Australian-bred Killua Castle has run on steadily at his last two starts and meets Anger on 5,5kgs better terms for a solid 8,25 length beating in the August Stakes.
His draw of 15 is a major deterrent and he would probably enjoy 200m further to really show his best.
The third of the Tarry trio is Taptap Makhatini, who was well beaten by Jet Jamboree last time, and even with a 5kg turnaround appears to have a lot to do.
Club Class
Mike Azzie is a shrewd strategist and saddles the Strike Smartly gelding Brooks-Club who carries just 50kgs.
While still marginally under sufferance, he meets Shadow Line on 4,5kgs better terms than when going down 2,50 lengths over Saturday’s course and distance at his last start.
He was ridden by Piere Strydom there and appeared well beaten, albeit not hard ridden in the final stages.
He beat Troubled Waters over the course and distance in September last year by 9,75 lengths and is a horse who could carry his recent good turf form over to the sand.
The two reserve runners are the Kimberley visitor Kingofmountain and Corne Spies’ Daring Bid gelding, All The Bids, who won well against weaker in the Northern Cape last time.
