Keep Looking. The promising 3yo Masked Lady could score an overdue second win in the feature on Saturday
The R150 000 Listed Jamaica Handicap to be run over 1700m at Kenilworth on Saturday hosts a mixed bag of fourteen fillies and mares. The decision whether to go with the proven older generation or one of the promising 3yo’s may hold the key to finding the winner. Glen Kotzen’s coupling of Masked Lady and Omaticaya could be a good starting point, but there are plenty of challengers.
The senior gang are looking rather tired and the enthusiasm and zest for competition may lie with the youngsters. Kotzen has had a quiet run with his feature runners, but is a master at prepping fillies. There won’t be too much to choose between Masked Lady and Omaticaya. Masked Lady is a smart daughter of Casey Tibbs, who campaigns these days in the Maine Chance silks.
She was not disgraced in either of the Choice Carriers Championship and the Cape Fillies Guineas, finishing just over two lengths behind in both races. Her promising 2yo form made her a 3yo filly to watch, and Glen will be expecting her to deliver on that promise in this company. Her stablemate Omaticaya will definitely enjoy this trip and she looks to have plenty of scope as a winner of 2 of her 5 starts. She could well hold Princess Of The Sky on her the weight turnover of her last run and could be just about anything at this early stage of the game.
High Flyers
While the 3yo brigade includes some talented youngsters, Jet Master’s two 5yo daughters Pan Amm and Hijacked have won five races each and will be no pushovers as seasoned campaigners that know their way around this track. The cleverly named Pan Amm is one of two Mike Bass runners and the grey scored a smooth win in this event last year when easily beating the then 3yo Jet Supreme. The latter has certainly franked the strength of that effort with a smart Gr3 win and a host of commendable stakes placed efforts in the ensuing year.
Pan Amm herself has won 2 of her 6 starts, and for a galloper who was thought limited after her Durbanville maiden win, she has developed into a valuable broodmare prospect and a consistent racer. She is coupled with the 3yo Princess Of The Sky, who has won 2 of her 5 starts and finished only 4 lengths behind In The Fast Lane in the Gr1 Avontuur Cape Fillies on 7 December. She will be ridden by Bass stable jockey Grant Van Niekerk and tries the extra 100m for the first time.
Dramatic Bid
The Dean Kannemeyer trained Hijacked is the third of the Jet Master progeny in the race. This mare is always value for a game effort, but never got into the fight when running eight lengths behind Jet Aglow in the Gr3 Victress Stakes last time. She is a versatile sort who can be ridden from the front or off the pace, and could provide a surprise in this company.
Paul Reeves’ Stagelight filly Nonki Poo is a game little galloper, who has had all kinds of bad luck at her recent starts. She was not disgraced when just six lengths behind Jet Aglow in the Victress Stakes after being bumped, and her style of racing will inevitably get her into trouble at times. She ran a nice running on fourth in this event last year, but has 5kgs more to carry this time round.
Sizzling
The red hot Hatt and Crawford duo team up with Luna De Victoria, who is battling to regain her better earlier form. She is 2kgs better off with Pan Amm for a length beating at Durbanville in October, and tries the 100m extra for the first time. Stephen Page saddles the Dynasty mare Dancing Dynasty, who jumps from the best of the draw.
Greg Cheyne rides her and she must be some fair value after her 4,80 length fifth in the Victress, after shifting in running and not settling. While her general form is lacking, she is obviously rated by her connections judging on past engagements.
Nursery Winner
Vaughan Marshall saddles the 2013 Cape Fillies Nursery winner Wheredowego, who has failed to earn in two runs as a 3yo. She was baulked but nevertheless ran a fair 3, 55 lengths off In The Fast Lane in the Fillies Guineas. Being by Captain Al out of a Fort Wood mare, this promising filly may be crying out for this trip and but for her wide draw, could have a fair chance of springing a surprise.
Ramsden Pair
Joey Ramsden’s Miss Saigon and Vol De Nuit will have their supporters. Topweight Miss Saigon is the better drawn of the two and has the services of crack heavyweight rider, Bernard Fayd’herbe. The stakes placed daughter of Captain Al is generally regarded as a sprinter, but her outstanding mother Catalina (Badger Land) won her 7 races up to 1800m and has passed plenty of her heart to her daughter.
Powerful Finish
The second of the Ramsden attack is the Silvano 3yo Vol De Nuit, who is drawn widest of all. She is a promising sort who has won 3 of 7 starts, and being out of a Model Man mare, could enjoy the extra distance here. Vol De Nuit has a terrific finish on her , and if Victor Morake takes the opportunity that Joey has given him with both hands, could be right there.
Justin Snaith’s Silvano mare Petara, like Masked Lady, runs in the yellow and black of Maine Chance Farms. She proved to be no threat in the Victress Stakes, but is highly regarded and must have a chance on her best past form, if Richard Fourie can overcome her wide draw.
Answers
The answer to this race may lie in siding with the promising 3yo’s. Masked Lady has shown some Gr1 ability and must be a factor if going the 1700m. She is a narrow selection to beat Omaticaya and Vol De Nuit.
