Top Ride. Gavin Lerena drives Jade Bay out to win the Lebelo Sprint. She’s A Stunner (second) is on the outside (JC Photos)
The champion Jackson’s half brother Jade Bay can really fly when he is in the mood, and he was well ridden by Gavin Lerena to win Saturday’s R250 000 Gr3 Lebelo Sprint run over the Turffontein 1000m. The Dominic Zaki trained son of Jallad cost himself valuable ground by drifting across the track, but still held on well.
The 4yo gelding had last found the winner’s enclosure when winning the Listed Umngeni Handicap at Greyville on Super Saturday at the end of last season. He had his connections on the edge of the seats with a similarly narrow and gusty win here, but it all ended well with a generous 10 to 1 on offer.
Jade Bay was prominent from the jump and drifted from the outside to look for some company. That relocation took him close on 700m and he finally met the KZN visitor and weak favourite Mr Whatever at the 300m marker.
For a stride Mr Whatever looked to be going the better, and as Marcus straightened and pushed he looked like he would deliver.
But Jade Bay was not done for and Gavin Lerena had him trying all the way to the line.
Jade Bay went on strongly to win by 0,25 lengths in a fast time of 55.61 secs.
The cheek pieces appear to have done the trick.
Much to the chagrin of PA punters, Mr Whatever was relegated to fourth by two flying females.
She’s A Stunner ran a cracker to storm through late for second, while the revitalised Woodruff sprinter Miss October stayed on well for third from way back.
Under a half length covered the top four, with Kinematic Countess finishing strongly wide out for fifth.
The fancied Here Comes Billy plodded late and ran a disappointing seventh. He may be better over a touch further.
Jade Bay is a half brother to J&B Met favourite Jackson, by Jallad out of the one time winning US bred Cozzene mare, Moonlit Prairie
He was bred by Highlands and cost R140 000 on the National Yearling Sale.
Jade Bay was registering a sixth win with 6 places from 20 starts and took his stake earnings to R527 825.
