Traveller. The Jet Master filly Star Jet should make a bold bid in Friday’s Listed East Cape Oaks at Fairview
It sure is tough going keeping a good man down. The name Snaith just keeps cropping up everywhere! The dynamic Cape operation look to hold a very strong hand yet again in Friday’s R130 000 Listed East Cape Oaks to be run over 2000m at Fairview.
With a bumper seven race feature spread nationally this weekend in three different racing centres, one would think that favouritism and prospects of success would be evenly spread amongst the top yards. That rule generally applies, but the Snaith team are riding the crest of a wave, and it is difficult to envisage them not having a red letter run again.
Star Man
The Snaith trio in the Fairview Friday feature is headed by the former Michael Robinson trained Star Jet, who has her second run the yard. Robinson has left Drakenstein Stud to undertake a new venture and Star Jet now has the diverse options open to Snaith owners.
That is, the lucrative alternative of the more easy takings up in the Eastern Cape. First prize on Friday is R81 250 and Star Jet would probably have to win something like over two average races in Cape Town to bank that sort of cheque.
The Drakenstein Stud owned daughter of Jet Master (how’s that for another name that’s everywhere?) won her maiden early on by over seven lengths, but has failed to add value to that.
In The Eye
Distance Suited? Valor Red steps up in ground in Friday’s Listed East Cape Oaks and had excuses last time
She was rated highly enough by the astute Robinson to have a bash at the Cape Fillies Guineas, but after failing there has had just two runs in the ensuing five months. Star Jet caught the eye last time out when running on strongly after losing ground at the start, to get within 1,25 lengths of Luna De Victoria in a fillies handicap.
While not without her problems, Star Jet enjoys a notable jockey strike and a fair draw at her first run in the Eastern Cape. The second of the Snaith hopes is the Australian bred daughter of Host,Ruby Sunset.
She shed her maiden in PE at her ninth outing, but then ran last when returning to contest a fillies handicap over a mile at Kenilworth. Valor Red is a very interesting runner. The daughter of Western Winter was confined to shorter distances early on but is slowly being pushed further. She was slow away when finishing fourth in the Oaks Plate last time and is another held by Silvan Spirit.
Her connections may well have been spurred on by the distance successes of her year older half sister Adobe Pink (Go Deputy)who registered a hat trick a fortnight ago in the Listed East Coast Handicap! The family have generally tended to be effective up to a miler, and lest we forget her full brother Red Ray, who is just starting out in life but is one of the quickest youngsters around. With blood of that quality flowing through her veins, it is frustrating to think that Valor Red has only won once. Include her.
Hometown Hero
Piere Strydom makes what is bound to be yet another lucrative trip to his old hometown. He rides the Oaks Plate winner Silvan Spirit for Alan Greeff. A daughter of Silvano, Silvan Spirit was backed and duly obliged with a storming late run win that feature last time.
Lightly raced, well drawn, fit and progressive, she ticks all the right boxes with Strydom up, and could well go in again. Corne Spies’ Hazel Jay ran on well for second behind Silvan Spirit last time and is now 2kgs better off for the 1,25 length beating. A daughter of Victory Moon, Hazel Jay is the most experienced filly in the event and always give of her best.
Breeding
Danger. The beautifully bred Dylan Thomas filly For The Count could be the value horse in the Listed East Cape Oaks
Mike Bass’ new Eastern Cape assistant Gavin Blake drew early blood this past week when Crown Hill became his first winner since taking over there just over a month ago. The former Cape and UK based trainer saddles the Dylan Thomas filly For The Count for Mrs Rhona Beck. The beautifully bred specimen (she is out of a Gone West mare) has won 2 of her 9 starts and jumps from a 2 draw with Robert Khathi in the saddle.
While she has been competing in lower level fillies handicaps and is thus nigh impossible to guage against the local strength, she looks ably distance suited and won her last start just over a month ago. Yvette Bremner saddles two runners and the Tamburlaine filly Majestic Beauty best of her lot.
The latter ran a cracking fifth in the Breeders Guineas and then ran on well enough to be beaten 2,50 lengths in the Oaks Plate. She is held by Silvan Spirit on that run and is not well drawn into the bargain. But she is lightly raced and looks capable of challenging. She is ridden by Karis Teetan.
Tight
The rest do not appear to have the form to challenge the mentioned fillies. It should be a tight call, but we are going with Snaith’s Star Jet to get the better of an interesting tussle with Silvan Spirit, while For The Count could be the danger.
