Scope. Paddy Kruyer’s Maximum Jet has the class to win the Listed Winter Oaks at Kenilworth on Saturday
The R500 000 Cape Winter Series for 3yo fillies reaches a low key climax at Kenilworth on Saturday with the R125 000 triple tiara bonus safely in the bank for another season. Paddy Kruyer’s second leg winner Maximum Jet looks capable of at least winning the overall series, by grabbing first cheque in the Listed Winter Oaks.
Joey Ramsden’s Blueridge Mountain was a runaway winner of the first leg when she skipped away to win the R125 000 Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes run over 1400m in great style on 5 May. She left for Champions Season in KZN shortly thereafter and in so doing quashed any possibility of the triple being won.
Shock
Maximum Jet pulled off something of a shock in the second leg, the R125 000 Listed Stormsvlei Mile run over a mile on 2 June. The Terrance Millard bred daughter of Jet Master looks capable of winning again on Saturday in the R125 000 Listed Winter Oaks run over 2200m.
The level weight terms of this event makes the determination of a winner a fairly straightforward task on paper. The top three rated fillies stand out above the rest, but most of their merit rating was achieved over lesser distances and the 2200m of Saturday’s feature will bring out the true colours. It will in fact the first time that eleven of the twelve runners have gone this far!
Standout
Maximum Jet has always looked a promising sort and stands out here as a three time winner from her eight starts. The daughter of Jet Master ran on stoutly to win the Stormsvlei Mile last time and beat the well performed Captainofmysoul more convincingly than the margin may suggest. She is bound to be even stronger over this trip and her dam was a good sort who won up to 2000m.
Smart Sort
Ronnie Sheehan’s Smart Colleen has found good form at her last two starts. The daughter of Strike Smartly has only managed one win from her thirteen starts, but ran on very strongly when beaten into third and just 0,70 lengths behind Maximum Jet in the Stormsvlei Mile. While she shed her maiden over 1000m, Smart Colleen tries this 2200m for the first time and is likely to enjoy it on breeding.
Snaith Trio
Justin Snaith’s trio of Count To Ten, Showdown and Ruby Sunset are bound to prove a popular inclusion for Pick Six players. Count To Ten has won two of her seven starts, but appears held by Maximum Jet on her 3,20 length fourth in the Stormsvlei Mile. Prior to that she ran a good second behind Scented Ash in the Breeders Guineas at Fairview in March.
The Dynasty filly Showdown has drawn against the paint and is another who looks capable of improvement over this distance. Showdown ran on late under Piere Strydom to win her penultimate start over 2000m at Fairview, but did not show last time when fading out behind Schism. She is 4,5 kgs worse off for a 4,70 length beating there.
Improved
Joey Ramsden’s Schism has won twice from 7 starts, and is a vastly improved filly in blinkers. She has won twice from her last four starts and won a good race last Saturday over 1800m. She has not drawn well at 11, but appears to be a filly who is improving nicely and could still be well ahead of the handicapper, and thus better in here than she may appear to be.
Adams Duo
Distance suited. The Darryl Hodgson trained Hamba Kahle could be the value over the increased ground
Darryl Hodgson sends out the Hassen Adams’ pair of Hamba Kahle and Simply Uncanny. A daughter of Victory Moon, Hamba Kahle looked a promising stayer in the making when she flew late at her third start to win over the Kenilworth 2000m.
A fair post maiden effort to the vastly improved Adobe Pink followed that, but she has failed to spark since. She is the only filly to have tried anything like this trip (she ran seventh in the 2400m Sun Classique behind Adobe Pink) and her experience may count for something.
The Australian bred Simply Uncanny also won her maiden early, but has failed to inspire any confidence since then. She appears well held on the Stormsvlei run.
Bass Pair
Improver. Joey Ramsden’s Schism won well last time and is fit and well
The Mike Bass trained pair of Season Pass and Gypsy Madonna are both well bred one time winners, who look capable of improvement. Season Pass won her maiden at the sixth time of asking but ran a poor race last time out when finishing over 13 lengths behind Irish May in a Progress Plate.
Gypsy Madonna put in a good post maiden effort behind Schism last time out, and meets Joey Ramsden’s filly on a kilo better terms for a 1,25 length beating. As a half sister to the brilliant Gypsy’s Warning, she may warrant consideration on the definite further improvers list.
Party Time
Carl Burger’s Trippi filly Foam Party haswon only once in 17 starts, and is well held by Maximum Jet on the Stormsvlei run. She is out of a Model Man mare who only won up to 1000m, and it is difficult seeing her suddenly improving lengths over the extra ground. Corne Spies’ Hazel Jay enjoys an apprentice claim but may need more in her favour to feature here.
High Flyer
Maximum Jet is the class in the race and she showed her wellbeing with a smart win in the second leg of the series. She is likely to be even better over the trip and is selected to hold Schism and Hamba Kahle. Smart Colleen should not be underestimated, while Count To Ten will have ashout if she stays.
