The Jallad gelding Johnny Rockets has an electrifying turn of foot and has a big winning chance on Saturday
South African champion trainer Justin Snaith saddles six of the fifteen runners carded in the two top handicaps on the Kenilworth eight-race Saturday programme. Bernard Fayd’herbe could make amends for a flying second last time when he rides Ken Truter’s consistent Jallad gelding, Johnny Rockets in the third leg of the jackpot.
Another weekend without feature action means that we are confined to the entertainment provided by the middle of the road brigade. But it is not all doom and gloom, judging by the exotic pools over the past few weeks and some competitive racing.
Snaith has hardly taken his foot off the juice since a hectic climax to last season and with Equus and the back slapping shows now behind him, he is all set to start from scratch and do it all over again as he sets sail for his next championship bid.
Double Bid
He saddles 14 runners on the eight race programme and could conceivably register a Fayd’herbe topweight double with Johnny Rockets and the old man, Cap Alright.
Johnny Rockets faces just six rivals in the Racing. It’s a Rush Handicap run over the 1800m winter course.
The gelding found top form with two good wins, including a course and distance performance, in May. He has maintained his commitment with two solid seconds, over varying trips of a mile to 2000m.
A winner of 5 of his 16 starts, he is in essence a very effective winter campaigner who suits Fayd’herbe’s relaxed riding style perfectly.
He beat his stablemate Paolo by all of six lengths last time and now meets the son of Casey Tibbs with an advantage of a further 1,5kgs. That means that Johnny Rockets holds him on form, although the Truters won’t be complaining as Paolo runs in Ken’s wife Jane’s silks.
Travelling Man
The third of the Snaith trio is the well-travelled seven-time winner, M’Lords Throat.
The son of Silvano returns from a 14 week break following a courageous win at Fairview and loses 4kgs of his joint top weight courtesy of apprentice Divan Neethling.
Mike Stewart’s consistent Overlord gelding Surruptitious seldom runs a bad race.
He finished behind Johnny Rockets and Barossa Valley last time and meets both on slightly better weight terms.
On past form with the weight differential, there may not be much between him and Johnny Rockets.
Up In Class
Mike Bass’ Titus steps up in class after a good third behind the improved Tiger Tops last time over the course and distance. He is marginally in under sufferance but is threatening to go through with the early promise he showed when winning 2 of his first 6 starts.
Barossa Valley is marginally held by Johnny Rockets on his last run and is another horse who has maintained admirable consistency throughout the winter.
Stan Elley’s Big Cat was scratched lame on July day.
He returns from a ten week break following a decent enough Durban campaign where he paid hi way with three places.
Snaith Trio
In the second MR 96 Handicap of the day, Justin Snaith saddles three of the eight runners in the Racingitsarush.co.za 1200m sprint.
Our top-rated runner is the 7yo soldier Cap Alright who lumps top weight of 62,5kgs at his 57th career starts and a bid for his tenth career win.
He ran a nice race over the course and distance last time when running handily and staying on for third and 2,50 lengths behind Silver Bluff.
While Cap Alright is a hardknocker, the fact that he bumps the fast improving Twentymanjones at unfavourable weight terms, could be his undoing.
Greg Cheyne – rides Twentymanjones
Progressive
Darryl Hodgson’s 4yo son of Jay Peg has won 2 of his 5 starts and was bumped but still ran on well in the same race behind Silver Bluff.
He beat Cap Alright by three quarters of a length and now gets 10,5kgs from him – an added advantage of 4,5kgs.
Twentymanjones will be ridden for the first time by the in-form Greg Cheyne and the only consideration to muddle the picture will be that Cap Alright should strip a fitter horse, as he was returning from PE and a 3 month break last time.
The two could have things to themselves, although Dressed In Cotton is capable and should not be ignored.
Karl Neisius rides the 6yo son of Jallad, who is never far off but is battling to register his sixth win.
Quiet Time
Yogas Govender’s yard has had a quiet time of it and he saddles the 7yo Western Winter gelding, Bad Winter.
Regular pilot Aldo Domeyer is aboard and while he shows plenty of toe, tends to fade late.
That also applies to Carl Burger’s Western Movie, who benefits from apprentice Xavier Carstens’ claim.
The youngster has won on him, but he should battle against the progressive Twentymanjones.
Justin Snaith holds a strong background
Blank Patch
Vaughan Marshall’s The West Is Wide returns from a blank KZN campaign, but enjoys the course and distance and beat Captive Action by 3,25 lengths in January. He is very inconsistent though.
Justin Snaith’s Villa Del Largo returns from a 32 week break and could need the run, while his 4yo Flash Drive has not captured his earlier promise and looks well held by Twentymanjones.
Power Hand
All told, Snaith looks to hold a strong hand.
If the younger Twentymanjones steps up again, he could stop Cap Alright. It looks a straight tussle between the two.
Around the turn, Johnny Rockets and M’Lords Throat look to have most to fear from Mike Stewart’s Surruptitious who carries a handy galloping weight.
