The R150 000 Listed Jet Master Stakes, rescheduled from its traditional Guineas day slot, adds some quality entertainment value to the closing day of the Cape Summer of Champions festival at Kenilworth today.
A quality field of ten will line up for the final leg of the jackpot, weighted off MR bands, with penalties for Gr1 and Gr2 wins.
Mambo Mime and Summer Sky pace it out in Met gallop – they clash head on today
Dean Kannemeyer has two in the field, headed by the supremely consistent Summer Sky. The 4yo son of Trippi ran on steadily over the course and distance last time and with a 2kg swing at the weights looks set to reverse his 0,75 length defeat by Perovskia. A winner of 4 of his 16 starts, Morne Winnaar – who won on him three runs back – looks to have plenty in his favour from a 1 draw with a handy galloping weight.
Now with Dan Katz, Mac de Lago has not won since his big win in the 2016 Gr1 Gold Challenge and never showed in the Peninsula Handicap at his last start. The 6yo is racing well off his career peak MR of 114 and cannot be fancied on current form.
Joey Ramsden’s Macduff – low profile
Joey Ramsden’s chestnut flyer Macduff is a versatile son of Street Flyer, who has never quite found his correct trip. He stumbled in running when finishing just under 5 lengths behind Bishop’s Bounty in the Diadem Stakes.
Our Mate Art started his 4yo season like a horse going places, winning two on the trot, including the Matchem Stakes. While racing in strong company, he failed to impress in either the Green Point Stakes or the Peninsula Handicap and is a difficult sort to catch right. On best form he would have an undeniable shout.
The bang in-form Richard Fourie pilots Piet Steyn’s consistent Waiting For Rain. The son of Black Minnaloushe never runs a bad race and won a cracker at his last start when beating Benjan in a tight finish. Off his 51kg mark, he may well be good enough to grab what would be a deserved first stakes success.
Mambo Mime was a class 3yo but he has been dogged by bad luck on the health front . He beat Milton at his penultimate start and then looked dangerous briefly in the straight before fading to 6 lengths behind Eyes Wide Open in the Peninsula Handicap. He is an above average sort and worth including in quartets.
Harold Crawford’s Perovskia is one of the best produce of Russian Sage and steps up in class after two hard fought wins in handicap company. He may battle to hold Summer Sky at the 2kg weight turnaround but should be in the shake up.
Catkin enjoys a 5kg turnaround in the weights with Fifty Cents for a 2,55 length beating last time and comes in fresh off an 11 week break. The son of Horse Chestnut is very game and can run well fresh.
Fifty Cents wins the Jet Master Stakes in 2016
Fifty Cents survived an objection by the then promising 3yo Horizon to win this race in 2016 and the 5yo is currently in prime form – having won 3 of his last 4 starts. He was a particularly facile winner at Fairview last time and if over the exertions of the travel, he must go into selections.
The gutsy Gr2 Premier Trophy winner Milton was not persevered with in the Peninsula Handicap at his next start when returning not striding out on the right fore.The 6yo has to lumber top weight but is always dangerous out front and enjoys the course and distance. Corne Orffer takes over from the indisposed Donovan Dillon.
Summer Sky ticks all the boxes. He is a horse who can be ridden from off the pace and can also go up and make them gallop. He is the pick to beat Waiting For Rain and Our Mate Art.
