The Danger. Mike Bass’ 4yo Internet Jet appears overdue to register her second win, but has a weight turnaround to overcome
The Cape has been lashed by storms and downpours for an extended period and the chances of the Kenilworth midweek meeting being run on heavy ground looks very likely. Cape champion trainer Justin Snaith sends a very interesting and lightly raced runner to post in the FM 86 Divided Handicap in the Jet Master filly, In The Fast Lane.
Snaith will know from experience that it is going to be very tough topping the season that he has just enjoyed. 198 winners is just unbelievable stuff and seven winners on a day. Well that’s the material that dreams are made of for most mortal trainer beings!
Snaith’s celebrity status also extended beyond the borders of the Western and Eastern Cape when he was awarded and Equus Special Achievement acknowledgement this past Wednesday. That rounded off a great twelve months, and he will be anxious to get the ball rolling again.
Highway
He sends out the very smart looking Jet Master 3yo In The Fast Lane against a small field of considerably more experienced campaigners in the R75 000 MR 86 Handicap run over the winter course mile. If the handicapper has the ratings correct, she looks quite a nice proposition.
The R650 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 graduate is out of the prolific winner producing Northern Guest mare, Northern Arrival. In The Fast Lane has only run thrice and won her maiden at the second time of asking by an impressive 9, 50 lengths over the Durbanville 1400m.
Last time out she got going too late when a close up fourth behind Boniface in heavy going over Wednesday’s course and distance. She carries just 48,5kgs here courtesy of the services of newly crowned Cape champion apprentice Girish Goomamy, and from her good draw, must be a serious factor.
Bandwidth
Her major opposition could be provided by another of the three Jet Master progeny in the race. The Mike Bass trained Internet Jet has only won once from her 12 outings, but has the benefit of age and experience on her side. She is 5,5kgs worse off with Snaith’s youngster on their last meeting where she finished a length in front. That is quite some disadvantage and turnaround to overcome, but Internet Jet is eminently distance suited and somehow looks way overdue for a second win.
Topweight
Top of the weights and having to concede over 13kgs to In The Fast Lane (in the wet possibly too!) is Brett Crawford’s Victory Moon 4yo Luna De Victoria. The three time winner ran a fair fifth last time in the Stormsvlei Stakes, after running handily and if fit after a ten week break, must have a shout for a place at the very least.
Joey Ramsden’s Captain Al mare Full Regalia is another three time winner, who has not been too far off the action of late. The forward running bay, who campaigns in the July winning Van Niekerk silks, stayed on well for third behind Gypsy Madonna last time, and may enjoy 400m less here in what is likely to be testing conditions.
Big Steps
The Dynasty mare Irish May has come on leaps and bounds since taking a while to win her maiden. She registered that win in January this year and has recorded two of her three wins over the course and distance. She is never far off any money, and is worth including. Paul Reeves’ Nonki Poo is a doggedly game daughter of Stagelight, who returned recently from a tough but blank KZN campaign.
She ran a cracker in the Gr3 Final Fling Stakes run over 1800m last Saturday, when powering through for a rather excellent position under two lengths behind the quality racemare, Rain Gal. If not hampered by the second run after a bit of a rest syndrome, she could well have a say in matters in a small field.
Smart Win
Yogas Govender sends out the twice winning Jet Master 4yo The Morrigan, who popped up over the course and distance at her penultimate start to win very smartly. The yard are full value for fitness with their excellent training facilities and the filly is no star, but likely to strip very ready to win a race of this nature.
Glen Kotzen’s That’s Our Girl has only won once from 15 starts, but appears to be coming back to something like her better form. The Kotzen yard have turned the corner and must be watched in the next few months.
Surface Stress
So all in all, a small field goes to post with chances to many and on a surface that could well be testing. In The Fast Lane hails from a champion yard and will be ridden by a champion apprentice. She looks promising and appears to have plenty in her favour.
The only concern is that she lacks for early toe and that could bring the likes of the frontrunner Full Regalia and Nonki Poo into play. Internet Jet has ground to make up on the lightly weighted 3yo, but tactics and jockey skills could prove the levellers. Whatever, the outcome, you can bet it will be raining jets!
