Power King good sort and will be fitter
Nine J&B Met hopefuls line up in Saturday’s R400 000 Gr2 Peninsula Handicap. Trainer Dean Kannemeyer has the best recent record, having won this race four times in the past thirteen years, and he will be hopeful of a big showing from his luckless Cape Winter Triple Crown pretender, Power King.
The Peninsula Handicap presents a last chance for some of the Met marginals to stake their place to a berth in the big race at the end of January.
Dynamic
Dean Kanemeyer thrilled with purchase of Mljet’s half brother
Chief amongst these are the smart 4yo’s Power King and Helderberg Blue, who ran just behind Dynamic in the recent Gr2 Premier Trophy over Saturday’s course and distance.
That particular feature received some negative press courtesy of a pedestrian pace set by winning rider Sean Cormack and some may question the strength of the form.
Power King had moved up late after being fairly prominent and only fell in a hole very late, when beaten 1,25 lengths by Helderberg Blue.
Power King is a highly rated son of Silvano, who was kept at home during the Cape winter season.
Better Off
He won the first two legs of the Winter triple crown, before falling to a superior finish by Dynastic Power in the Derby.
He has been beaten three times by Helderberg Blue at his last three runs, but is a kilo better off with the Bass gelding on his Premier Trophy performance.
There is little question that the reformed character of Helderberg Blue was definitely finishing the better of the two in that race and many considered him unlucky not to get past Dynamic.
In a race where pace looks almost guaranteed, he is given the chance to get back to winning ways and secure his Met spot.
Premier Performance
Johnny Rockets ran a cracker last time
There were 3 others who finished just behind in that race.
Johnny Rockets ran out of his skin with a flourishing finish to run just behind Power King in the Premier Trophy.
The son of Jallad is 1,5kgs worse off with Power King and will be pressed to beat him on that turnaround.
Arion finished 2,15 lengths back in the same race and will strip fitter here. He drops 3,5kgs in the weights and is ridden by stable jockey Richard Fourie.
True Master has drawn out at 13 and finished just over 3,70 lengths behind Dynamic in the Premier Trophy.
He drops 4,5kgs in the weights and is this better off with the five that finished ahead of him – he was also very consistent at his three previous handicap starts and could be the lurker in the hands of Sean Cormack.
Tough
Mike Bass – strong hand
In addition to Helderberg Blue, Mike Bass also saddles the stayer River Crossing and the out-of –form Night Trip.
River Crossing was disappointing off a muddling pace in the Cape Summer Stayers last time when unplaced and 3,90 lengths behind surprise winner Coltrane.
He may be a better option in the J&B Jet on Met day than a race of this nature.
Night Trip has had two blank runs this season and will need improvement to feature.
Luckless
Punta Arenas dumped his jockey last time
The luckless Punta Arenas dumped his jockey in the preliminaries and thus missed out on an important Met prep run opportunity in the Premier Trophy.
His only outing this term was a lacklustre effort when last behind Legislate in the Green Point Stakes and he will need to start showing his hand. It is good to see a top rate heavyweight rider engaged to get the best out of the son of Silvano.
His stablemate Dynastic Power was not striding out when disappointing in the Cape Summer Stayers.
This promising 3yo of last term is well drawn and now needs to deliver and produce the goods.
Off The Boil
Selangor Cup winner De Kock is off the boil
Joey Ramsden’s Algoa Cup winner Disco Al returns from an unsuccessful attempt on the Sansui Summer Cup and is likely to need the run.
Brett Crawford’s De Kock appears to have gone off the boil since his surprise win over 1100m at Kenilworth in September.
His victory over Legislate in the 2013 Selangor Cup gave a hint of his true ability and he should relish the 1800m after being restricted to sprints.
Tiger Tiger has always had the reputation of being something of a Kenilworth 1200m specialist.
The son of Tiger Dance has been pushed beyond that boundary at his last two outings and ran a good second over a mile behind True Master at his penultimate jump. He is a half kilo better off with the Snaith runner here.
He then ran on decently when a 1,50 length sixth to Jet Aglow in the Jet Master Stakes last time.
He tries 1800m for the first time and his breeding suggests he could get the trip.
Longshot
Sean Tarry’s Serissa looks a real longshot for Met inclusion on his current form and his prospects will not be helped by the fact that he has drawn 16.
Glen Kotzen’s Gone Baby Gone had some fair form in his 3yo career with Mike De Kock.
He is yet to fire in his new yard, but did not run a bad race when 2,45 lengths behind Jet Aglow in the Jet Master Stakes.
Marshall Duo
Chestnut’s Rocket has decent form
Vaughan Marshall saddles Chestnut’s Rocket and the stayer, Desert Swirl.
Chestnut’s Rocket has won 6 of his 17 starts and travelled to PE after a fair fourth behind Reim in the Gr3 Matchem Stakes.
He won his last start on the Fairview polytrack, beating Ottimo by 0,75 lengths. The son of Horse Chestnut is an above average galloper and could trouble the top three at best.
His stablemate Desert Swirl is an out and out stayer and needs more ground to show his best.
Open
In a wide open and competitive race, we are leaning towards the 4yo’s Power King and Helderberg Blue to fight this out.
There is plenty of class simmering below the surface and here the likes of Punta Arenas, Arion and De Kock warrant inclusion.
