Anger drew near Bloemfontein
The final field for Africa’s richest race on sand, the R1 million Gr2 Emerald Cup to be run at the Vaal on 27 September was announced on Thursday.
Dominic Zaki’s Jet Jamboree, who is unbeaten on the sand since being gelded, drew pole position at 1 and will be ridden by Gavin Lerena.
The strong galloping son of Jet Master is bound to have his supporters with the advantage of a prime rails draw. He carries joint topweight with the Hassan Adams-owned soldier Uncle Tommy, who has to overcome an 11 draw.
The Scott Kenny-trained Shadow Line is the latest talking horse on this surface and while receiving a maximum penalty for his last facile win, looks to have outstanding claims from a decent draw.
The Corne Spies coupling includes the reformed Brazillian-bred Anger, who won the August Stakes recently and set himself up for five wins in succession.
He has unfortunately drawn nearer Bloemfontein than the winning post, and has a mountain to climb.
Mike Azzie’s Brooks-Club comes in on bottomweight with JP van der Merwe up and will give Shadow Line more to think about after a well beaten second last time.
Last year’s Emerald Cup winner In A Rush is a surprise inclusion to defend his title, but his recent form inspires little confidence and his draw of 12 won’t help his cause.
Full fields with a detailed race preview and all the information on the Vaal’s biggest raceday of the year in next weekend’s Sporting Post.
R 1,000,000 1450m EMERALD CUP (Grade2)
Sc# Horse Mass MR Draw B A T Jockey Trainer
1 JET JAMBOREE 60.0 114 (114) 1 A G Lerena Dominic Zaki
2 UNCLE TOMMY 60.0 114 (114) 11 B A T W Marwing Weiho Marwing
3 RIO CARNIVAL 58.0 109 (109) 7 B A A Marcus Charles Laird
4 WHITELINE FEVER 58.0 109 (109) 2 A P Strydom Sean Tarry
5 IN A RUSH 58.0 108 (108) 12 A T F Herholdt Gavin Smith
6 TOMMY GUN 58.0 108 (107) 3 A S Chambers Corne Spies
7 ACROSS THE ICE 56.0 106 (106) 14 B A T R Danielson Sean Tarry
8 SHADOW LINE 56.0 104 (104) 5 A G Wrogemann Scott Kenny
9 ISOBAR 54.0 102 (102) 13 A S Khumalo Weiho Marwing
10 STORM SURF 54.0 102 (102) 4 A K Zechner Kumaran Naidoo
11 ANGER 54.0 101 (100) 16 A F Naude Corne Spies
12 KILLUA CASTLE 54.0 100 (100) 15 A A Aucharuz Geoff Woodruff
13 TAPTAP MAKHATINI 52.0 97 ( 97) 6 A T J Mariba Sean Tarry
14 BROOKS-CLUB 50.0 93 ( 93) 8 B A T J P v’d Merwe Mike Azzie
Reserve Runners
15 KINGOFMOUNTAIN 54.0 99 ( 99) 9 B A Reserve 1 Cliffie Miller
16 ALL THE BIDS 50.0 100 ( 83) 10 A Reserve 2 Corne Spies
