Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

JJ cruises to his fifth Grade1 win

David Thiselton
JJ The Jet Plane stamped himself as one of South Africa’s best ever sprinters at Clairwood yesterday when annihilating a Grade 1 field as if out on an exercise gallop.
The Lucky Houdalakis-trained five-year-old Jet Master gelding opened at very generous odds of 16-10, probably on the grounds that he had recently missed 10 days of work, and started at 9-10.
However, it was clear almost from the off that he was his usual self, assuming the lead immediately, and with a tailwind behind him the only question was whether he would need a parachute to slow down.
He passed the post 5,5 lengths clear of Gaultier and the time was just 0,17sec outside the course record. Piere Strydom confirmed afterwards that he was the best sprinter he had ever ridden. “I used to think it was Goldmark,” he said. “But Goldmark gave me a different kind of feel - it was as if he was floating. J J has incredible cruising speed. I’m going along and thinking the other horses must be around me but meanwhile he’s about three lengths clear. Then he still has a turn of foot at the end.” He added, “I looked at the ground when cantering down and it looked as if the tractor had been on the outside, so I took advantage of it. My only worry was his fitness because of the recent hiccup he had had in work. I thought he’d either win by five lengths or be tailed off last. But I could feel in the race that he still had plenty left.”
Lucky Houdalakis spoke of the terrible moment 17 days before the race when J J returned lame from a workout. However, such is the class of this horse, that he needn’t have had any concerns. Gaultier’s run would have brought much pleasure to the Mike Bass yard, as this horse has been working extremely well all winter at Clairwood, but hasn’t been putting it in at the races in his last few starts.
He also came from a favourable high draw, as did the third-placed Joey Ramsden-trained Bush Pirate who ran a cracker considering his relatively low merit rating. Bush Pirate came from way off them to finish runner up in his last start in the slow run Post Merchants, so his performance here was not as surprising as it might seem. Ramsden confirmed that a stiff six furlongs is Bush Pirate’s best trip and that he always ran well in top class fields.
The Sean Tarry-trained Captain’s Gal, winner of the SA Fillies Sprint, was the only filly in the race and ran a good fourth, also from an outside draw, while the Bass-trained Rushing Wind was the first low drawn horse home in fifth.
J J owned by Coenie Strydom, Hennie du Preez, Thea Boyens and Houdalakis himself, won this same race in 2008 by four lengths and this was his fifth Grade 1 win. The Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship at Kenilworth next January looks his natural next target.

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