Wearing The Bracelet. Rush For John won the Listed Lady’s Bracelet.
The Justin Snaith-trained Rush For John was produced at just the right moment by top jockey Felix Coetzee to win Friday’s R130 000 Listed Lady’s Bracelet run over the Fairview mile.
The daughter of Jet Master held on just long enough to thwart the late low-flying challenge of fellow Capetonian Rivatorio who appeared somewhat unlucky to settle for the second cheque.
That is not to say that Rush For John did not win it fairly and squarely after hitting the front 400m from home. And while no Empress Club, she has more than paid her way.
In fact her formline makes interesting and pleasing reading, for her connections, in particular!
Assuming black-type to be the goal of any self-respecting prospective broodmare, then the 4yo has shown the right attitude.
Justin Snaith. Trained the Lady’s Bracelet winner
A winner of just three races, she won her maiden at Durbanville in September 2011, and then the Listed Winter Oaks in June last year , followed by the listed feature today. That’s very good going!
Drama ensued at the start with the late withdrawal of Rush For John’s fancied stablemate Ocean’s Swift, who appears to have her issues. The Sham’s Lunar Lee looked handicapped to win it and retained her position at the top of the boards, eventually jumping at 33-10.
Light The Moon led for much of the journey from the lightly-weighted Oil Grey, with the keen as mustard Estelle and Lunar Lee further afield. Rivatorio was in midfield, with the 3yo Break Of Dawn at the rear.
Into the home straight Light The Moon faded quickly as Rivatorio looked dangerous as Rush For John stormed into contention , with Hail The Hearty unwinding her effort.
Coetzee pinched a few lengths as Gerrit Schlechter battled for running room and switched Rivatorio for her run as time ran out.
In a sensational final 200m, Rush For John plugged on as Rivatorio flew under a left-handed ride. But two strides too late.
In a triumphant Cape exacta, Rush For John started at 7-1 and went on to beat Rivatorio by 0,25 lengths in a time of 99,25 secs.
Steven Janse Van Rensburg’s Hail The Hearty ran on for a gallant third position at any old price.
The favourite had nothing to come late, and may prefer 1400m and less. She ran sixth and just 4 lengths off the winner.
Snaith PE assistant Juan Nel said that Rush For John had only arrived the previous day from Cape Town, but that she had travelled well and was in top trim.
The recently injury plagued Felix Coetzee looked pleased as punch to be back in the winner’s enclosure and said that things had gone very well and that the splits had materialised at the right time. He then added rather bemusedly that ‘sometimes things work out in your favour!’
Rush For John’s Groomsman, Themba Madodo, was on course to receive his award and also deserves credit for a job well done
Rush For John has now won 3 of 17 starts for 9 places and R267 530 in stake earnings.
A R150 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, she was bred by Cheveley Stud and is by Jet Master out of the four-time winning Elliodor mare, Siena. The latter was trained in her racing career by Dean Kannemeyer for the Hon Alec Foster.
The Lady’s Bracelet Trophy was presented by Fairview Turf Club Life Member, Jeremy Davis, who urged racing enthusiasts to visit the revamped Fairview facilities, which he labelled ‘inviting and fantastic .’
