Eternal Jet – has the best of the draw and will be reaching peak fitness
With Africa’s greatest horseracing event at Greyville under a fortnight away, it is a touch difficult waxing lyrical about a bread and butter midweek meeting on the polytrack at the same venue. But the thrill and colour of the winnings are the same and without the punting firepower in reserve, we may as well stay in bed on 4 July.
The July is one of those rare races that still captivates the broader public imagination in the 21st century – like many of our major races used to twenty years ago.
That is particularly applicable in South Africa’s racing playground of KZN, where it also attracts the interest of the once-a-year flutterers, the dreamers and lucky numbers brigade.
With the final field being announced on Tuesday and the official July Gallops being held on Thursday, this is the week that the heat will be turned up a few degrees.
Staunch
But with racing every day of the week, life goes on in the here and now for the regular punter and our focus in midweek is on a relatively modest, but complicated looking, MR 80 Handicap run over the Greyville 1200m.
Trainer Dennis Drier – Eternal Jet is well drawn
The Dennis Drier-trained Eternal Jet catches the eye in the twelve strong field, jumping from a 1 draw in blinkers for the first time.
The 4yo son of Jet Master races in the interests of the Muirs and well-known KZN owner Cecil Baitz, and will be offered for sale just 24 hours later on the Michael Holmes Bloodstock Super Sale – at Greyville.
Bred by Gavin Schafer, he is out of the Model Man Easyjadeasy, who was trained by Mike Bass to her five career wins.
While having lost his form of late, Eternal Jet has won 3 races – including a victory over Wednesday’s course and distance beating the classy Zestful. With improved fitness after a layoff and the introduction of the headgear, he could go close.
Market Related
Anton Marcus – rides Salesman
One horse who is not lacking in recent form is the Rebel King gelding Salesman.
Anton Marcus is back in the saddle and Charles Laird’s 4yo is something of a course and distance specialist, who just failed last time to make it two in a row, when going down narrowly to the improved again Rock Me Var.
The Gavin Van Zyl-trained Fort Wood gelding Aware jumps alongside Eternal Jet and is another who has found a new lease of life on the polytrack.
He ran strongly last time to beat Tonto over 200m shorter, but has decent form over 1200m -1400m to suggest that he won’t go down without a fight.
Strike Rate
Dean Kannemeyer – Great strike rate with Delpech who partner with Captain Great
Dean Kannemeyer and Anthony Delpech have enjoyed the leading trainer-jockey strike rate in SA in recent weeks and the 3yo Captain Great improved nicely for third on the surface last time out.
The lightly raced son of Captain Al won early and is highly regarded by his connections.
The race does not end with these but with recent form and poor draws counting against them, the rest look a little hard-pressed to deliver a winning performance.
