Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Brothers in arms

David Thiselton
Bernard and Robert Fayd’herbe, two brothers closely linked to Saturday’s J&B Met favourite Pocket Power, have a laid back outward appearance, but in fact the great horse’s success brings them a great deal of joy and more than a little emotion.
“It is extra special because it has become a family thing,” said Robert.
He said that a fourth Met win for Pocket Power, adding to his recent fourth Queen’s Plate win, would “mean a huge amount to us.”
“Wherever our family are in Madagascar or Mauritius they tune in and share in the triumph,” he said.
Bernard has ridden Pocket Power to three of his four L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate wins, two of his three J&B Met triumphs as well as his Vodacom Durban July and Gold Challenge victories, among others.
Robert is assistant trainer to Mike Bass and along with groom Boyboy Jevu is Pocket Power’s most trusted companion.
He travels with the big bay on his journeys to Durban, taking care of him while the boss is not there, and also accompanies him in the parade ring on the days when he’s on his toes, as is sometimes the case when he’s away from home.
Bernard feels that Pocket Power is still the horse to beat on Saturday despite being a seven-year-old.
“I don’t think his age will stop him,” he said. “There’s no mistaking that he’s not young anymore, but he still won the Queen’s Plate as well as he’s ever done. He’s never won easily before, he always does just enough. No matter what race, he will never win by far.”
Asked on whether Pocket Power’s infamous “flat spot” was real or imagined, he said, “It’s definitely there. He picks it up at the top of the straight and then just sort of hovers for a while. It’s really annoying, but I’m used to it and it doesn’t worry me anymore, because I know he’s going to kick again later on.”
Bernard elaborated on Pocket Power’s now famous victory surge, in which a matter of strides he leaves his rivals for dead, “He is a horse who really wants to win, but I do have to ride him hard until the end because he tends to think he’s done enough when he’s hit the front.”
He confirmed that Pocket Power is a better horse in Cape Town than Durban.
Bernard did not feel, like some, that this year’s Met field was stronger than the previous fields Pocket Power had beaten.
Of the dangers, he said, “Big City Life is a very good horse and on his day can put up a big run. The Johannesburg horses are strong. River Jetez is doing very well and it was just the really slow pace that cost her in the Paddock Stakes. Mother Russia must also have a chance. But Pocket Power is the horse they all have to beat.”

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