Simply Imperial! Ze Kaiser surges clear to win the Jet Master Stakes (Equine Edge)
Trainer Mike Bass must be asking himself why it took so long to experiment with the blinkers on the talented, but largely frustrating grey Silvano gelding Ze Kaiser. The handsome 4yo stopped the fancied King Of Pain with an energetic burst to win the R110 000 Jet Master Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.
The stakes placed Ze Kaiser has always been considered to be something above average, but has tended to throw in the towel when it counts in his races. On Saturday the blinkers certainly appeared to get him to run all the way to the line though and he scored a smart win over the luckless 2012 Selangor Cup winner, King Of Pain.
The KZN mare Louvre led the field around and into the straight with the two greys in midfield about six lengths off the action. Ze Kaiser was stalked all the way around by King Of Pain.
At the 300m Ze Kaiser was given his head and immediately quickened, unlike King Of Pain who took time to unwind and probably did his best work in the final 100m.
Ze Kaiser had things well under control though and went on well to win by a length at a price of 12 to 1 in a time of 99,46 secs.
King Of Pain was given every chance by Bernard Fayd’herbe but appeared to hit a flat spot at a crucial stage and stayed on for second. He may need 1800m plus at this stage of the game.
Justin Snaith would have been thrilled with joint topweight Jet Explorer, who charged through late for a low flying third.
Stroke Of Genius. Mike Bass stuck the blinkers on
The top three are all Met entrants and would not have done their prospects any harm.
Winning jockey Grant Van Niekerk said that the blinkers had worked well and that his mount had maintained his finish all the way to the line. “He quickened really well and I must say thank you to all the lovely owners,” he said.
Bass assistant trainer Candice Robinson said that Ze Kaiser had generally been a horse that often moved up in his races travelling well, but that he tended to hang and not go on with it. She said that the grey had galloped well with his blinkers at Kenilworth and that her vastly experienced Dad had believed that he would run well.
Bred by Midlands Equine, Ze Kaiser is by Silvano out of the prolific winner producing Palace Music mare, Palace Bride. The next dam Bridesmaid is a Gr3 placed stakes winning 1200m sprinter in the UK (rated 111).
This is the same family as the top class stakes winners Silver Mist and Shades Of Indigo.
Cape trainer Mike Bass secured the grey half brother to Dubai winner and Queen’s Plate runner-up Silver Mist for R700 000 at the Vintage Yearling Sale held at Durbanville in 2011. He was the top lot on that sale.
He took his stake earnings to R279 605 and his personal scorecard to 3 wins and 8 places from 18 starts.
The Bezrin gelding Big City Angel was the second Gavin Van Zyl runner (after Seal in the Cape Stayers Handicap ) to run last and his below par performance drew the attention of the Stewards.
An excerpt from the Stipes Report:
BLACK TOGA (A Marcus) was difficult to settle in the early stages and compounded badly in the closing stages. The Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine the gelding on its return to the unsaddling enclosure and submit a report.
In view of the performance from BIG CITY ANGEL (A Delpech) (22.35 lengths), the Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine the gelding on its return to the unsaddling enclosure and submit a report.
