Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

River Jetez targets Dubai World Cup

MICHAEL CLOWER
Racing South Africa chief executive Peter Gibson has made representations to the Dubai authorities, asking them to relax their stringent quarantine regulations so that J & B Met winner River Jetez can run in either the Duty Free or the Sheema Classic on World Cup day on March 27.
South African horses running at the Dubai Carnival normally have to spend a month in Europe en route and Gibson acknowledges that getting the mare out there is not going to be easy, saying: “Apart from the protocol issues, the logistics are equally problematic but I am awaiting a response.”
Dubai is one of four options for the mare according to trainer Mike Bass who said: “There is also the Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein at the end of the month and the Durban season, although I don’t think she is a candidate for the Durban July because after winning the Met the weights would make it a tough race for her. The fourth option is to retire her.”
Gibson has suggested the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong on April 25 if the Dubai option proves to be a non-runner. Alec Laird won this 2000m race with London News in 1997 while Mike de Kock was successful with Irridescence in 2006 and again with Archipenko two years ago. But at the moment it’s thought unlikely that River Jetez will travel.
Bass reports that the cut Pocket Power suffered when struck into in the Met “wasn’t bad at all” but the horse’s objectives in the Durban season will purposely be kept fluid.
“I will nominate him for the July and see how he is going at the time. But he doesn’t do quite as well in the winter and, if I feel he is not up to running a big race, I might end up making the Gold Challenge his main mission.”
Stable companion Captain’s Secret pulled up lame in the Investec Cape Derby and was found to have jarred a knee. He will be aimed at the Cape winter series.
Big City Life will attempt to become the first dual Vodacom Durban July winner since El Picha ten years ago. Trainer Glen Kotzen, having studied the video, is not in the least put out by the gelding finishing only ninth in the Met.
Kotzen, who will also aim Fabiani at the July, said: “In fact Big City Life ran a fantastic race. Things didn’t go his way early on and he had to be taken wide but he went from being 28 lengths behind the leaders to less than four behind at the finish.”
Dean Kannemeyer, looking for his third July win, is going to run Noordhoek Flyer in the race even though some observers felt that the Cape Guineas winner failed to last home when beaten a neck by Bravura in the Cape Derby.
Kannemeyer said: “I’m not making excuses – the winner is a very good horse – but Karl Neisius felt that, had he been closer in the straight, he could have waited longer and then pounced.
“Noordhoek Flyer’s initial aim is the KRA Guineas on May 2. Then it’s the Daily News followed by the July and I think Greyville will suit him.”
Andrew Fortune makes his long-awaited return at Durbanville tomorrow when the champion has four rides for Joey Ramsden.

\| All information on these pages are (©) Copyright Gold Circle Pty (Ltd) 2002 \| site map
(This site is best viewed at 1024 X 768)