Jet Setter! Chris Puller(yellow jacket) shows his skill by getting Pan Amm to rally.
A delighted clenched fist punched the warm Durbanville afternoon air. The mercurially talented Chris Puller rode a cracker of a race to get the grey Jet Master filly Pan Amm up in the shadow of the post to win the jackpot opener today
The bright yellow distinctive Amm silks worn to J&B Met and international glory by Pocket Power’s full sister River Jetez flashed up late on the outside to nab Tippejari, who had looked a winner of the Fillies and Mares Maiden Plate over a mile. But young Puller’s never-say-die gung ho approach worked the magic.
Barbara and Cedric Amm were on course to lead their admittedly disappointing daughter of Jet Master into the winner’s enclosure – showing their vast experience of racing by conceding that ‘she is no River!’
She put three disappointing runs with three different jockeys over distances ranging from sprints to a mile behind her, although she had excuses last time as she had been reported coughing. Bernard Fayd’herbe did nothing wrong on the second horse and would have already banked the cheque in the final 50m.
Puller is something of an enigma though. He rides for the Mike Bass yard and Bill Prestage and picks up the odd Ramsden ride. He does not display a high work-rate and is lying about 42nd on the National Jockey Log with 17 winners. Interestingly he has the second least rides (behind Fayd’herbe) of all 45 jockeys on the main table. He is a real talent and has inherited many of his Dad Glen’s and legendary Uncle Garth’s equine genes. His Mom Lauren is his biggest fan and one just gets the feeling that with the correct guidance and opportunities, he could launch a serious assault on honours higher up the ladder.
Happy Hour! Owner Bruce Ferreira and trainer Glen Kotzen(right) with Erfaan and Sean Cormack.
Glen Kotzen’s yard appeared to have upped their game after a quiet spell and celebrated a second winner in two days-they won the sixth race at Scottsvile on Tuesday with the promising Political Playboy- and they struck in the fifth with the revitalised Fort Wood gelding Erfaan. Bruce Ferreira’s four year old recorded his third win from twelve starts. He started his career with Mike De Kock and spent a short period with Grant Paddock in Port Elizabeth but it is Kotzen who has found the winning touch.
Sean Cormack rode a confident race and produced him at the right moment down the inside rail to win going away in a PA shocker with the outsider Evita’s Darling running into second. The recent Dominic Zaki relocate Leading The Field also improved suddenly for Justin Snaith to grab a third stake cheque.
Pan Amm was the first leg of a treble for the Mike Bass yard who recorded the final official tote double courtesy of the bookies buddy Laurie’s Gold and the improved Lady Chenelle.
Laurie’s Gold probably holds the title of the most backed horse in the Western Cape – this despite having won six months ago and having produced six disappointing interim runs. He turned the tables today and made a mockery of backers once again – this time by downing an odds-on favourite.
Aim High made the pace in the Progress Plate over 1400m but Grant Van Niekerk had the front-runner in his sights and sent Laurie’s Gold on his way at about the 300m. He caught the red hot favourite Lake Arthur flat-footed and went on to beat the Plattner horse with some ease. Hopefully Laurie’s Gold will have found some confidence in this win and he could yet fulfil his early promise.
The next Bass winner came in the form of a near milestone in the last for veteran jockey Karl Neisius. The starting stall gates were sprung prematurelyn error as the field loaded for the final event, an MR76 Handicap for Fillies and Mares over 1400m. This error would not have endeared the Starter to trainer Joey Ramsden and the owners of Sweet Money, who include Barbara and Cedric Amm owners of earlier winner Pan Amm. The Caesour filly got away from jockey Gareth Wright and was withdrawn. What an unnecessary waste of time and money!
No 2999! An elated part-owner Wiehaan Smith leads in Karl Neisius on Lady Chenelle.
But the final race was more memorable for the fact that veteran Cape jockey Karl Neisius rode the 2999th winner of his forty year career. Neisius had the Mike Bass-trained daughter of National Emblem, Lady Chenelle just off the action from her pole position draw as replacement jockey Devin Ashby took the fancied Mysterious Jet up to lead.
Riding a determined race. Neisius got the National Emblem filly to rally well and she held the consistent Dance For Gold at bay. Robert Kathi, rider of the latter, took some flak from many quarters for what looked a half-baked ride. But let’s not detract from Karl Neisius’ moment and the veteran goes into Sunday’s Easter Monday meeting with eight fair rides and a great chance to celebrate his 3000th winner.
Let’s hope that an award will be made by the racing operator to mark the auspicious event.
