Star Jet foils Adobe Pink’s double bid to win the Listed East Coast Handicap
Cape trainer Justin Snaith conceded that he wasn’t strong in the female stayng ranks department despite having saddled the Jet Master filly Star Jet to a smooth win in the R135 000 Listed East Coast Handicap over 2000m at Clairwood on Sunday.
The lightly raced Star Jet, a magnificent strong chestnut Jet Master filly, had registered her first career stakes win in Port Elizabeth in January, when scoring in the Listed Lady’s Bracelet.
She improved further on Sunday and should prove very competitive in Champions Season. It is hard to believe that she is only a tree time winner!
With the scratching of her stablemate She’s A Pippa, Star Jet was eventually installed a weak 5 to 1 favourite in an evenly matched contest.
Athandiwe Mgudlwa kept them honest as he took Charles Laird’s Captain’s Daughter up at a solid gallop to lead from Royal Denise and Sky Pirate, with Alascan Maiden and Adobe Pink further back.
Star Jet was nearer last turning for home.
Captain’s Daughter quickly came under pressure in the straight and Adobe Pink looked a winner inside the 300m as Bernard Fayd’herbe set her alight down the inside. Anthony Delpech also had Forgive No Forget looking dangerous, but her effort fizzled quickly.
Richard Fourie is boosting Justin’s confidence levels!
Just off the action, Star Jet was unwinding and gathering momentum and Fourie unleashed her confidently down the middle.
Star Jet ran on strongly to beat last year’s winner Adobe Pink by three quarters of a length in a time of 120,40 secs.
Adobe Pink ran her usual game race and only stopped late. She can only be fitter for this outing.
Dean Kannemeyer’s Hijacked loves KZN and she improved dramatically on her recent form to stay on strongly down the outside.
Jockey Richard Fourie said that Star Jet was cherry ripe for this run and was even slightly above herself .
“She felt very good. I sat on her and exercised patience as we came into the straight. With the even tempo in the pace, she was always going to get there. It was a smart win,” he said.
Trainer Justin Snaith joked that ‘normal rules’ just didn’t apply with Star Jet.
“She kicked the paddock fence a few weeks ago and the wound blew up. So I was forced to scratch her twice. She also happens to be the only staying filly in my string up here but there are some very nice staying races. She will probably run in the Oaks, even though I disagree that they have made it an open race. For us the Oaks and the Derby are for 3 yo’s. And also I just want to say well done to Richard. He is riding the crest of a wave and his confidence makes up for my lack of it on some days,” he said.
Star Jet races in the silks of her breeders, Drakenstein Stud. She is a 4yo filly by Jet Master out of the twice winning Mutakddim mare, Southern Cross.
Star Jet was registering her third win with 7 places from her 16 starts and took her earnings to R275 185.
