In the Victress Stakes Snaith stable jockey Richard Fourie will be aboard Acrostar, who has burst into prominence with two impressive displays over 1400m and 1600m in her last two starts.
Snaith said about the four-year-old Australian-bred by Danehill Dancer, “She is a late maturing filly who has come well. We have gelled with her and everything we are doing she is enjoying. She has come into her own and is doing well at home, so we are expecting a similar race to her last two.”
Acrostar finished second in last season’s Listed Winter Oaks over 2200m, so should have no problem with the 1800m trip. She came from last in both of her recent wins, so her draw of eight will be of no concern either. This will be her last run before the Paddock Stakes.
The five-year-old Jet Master mare Jet Supreme returned from a three month rest on November 8 in a MR 88 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m and ran on strongly to finish second, beaten 0,2 lengths.
Snaith said, “She is a very nice filly and that was a very impressive first run back. She was unlucky not to win as she found a bit of trouble early on. She is doing well and is consistent, so will run a good race, and Sean Cormack is the best rider for her.”
Jet Supreme (Nkosi Hlophe)
Jet Supreme beat Acrostar a short-head when winning the Gr 3 weight for age Final Fling Stakes over 1800m on August 3, so will enjoy the trip. She has a difficult draw of nine, but Cormack is skilled at placing horses in the running.
Star Jet is also a five-year-old Jet Master mare and has finished 3,5 lengths and 3 lengths respectively behind Acrostar in her last two outings, although she was giving the latter 3kg in the first of them. Snaith said, “Her runs back from a break have also been very good and she is primed for a big run on Saturday. I wouldn’t be surprised if she is the fastest finisher, especially over this distance.” She is drawn in pole position with Karl Neisius up.
Snaith summed up his Victress Stakes chances, “We are very strong and I will be disappointed if we don’t walk away with a win.”
The yard have four runners in the Premier Trophy and Fourie has surprisingly chosen to ride True Master, who is the lowest merit rated of them on 93. The five-year-old Jet Master gelding won his second race this season in a MR 95 Handicap over 1600m and Snaith said, “He had a successful wind operation after Durban and it has made a lot of difference, he might be better than his form suggests and he has come on from his last run.” He is drawn well in four.
Snaith’s former Investec Cape Derby runner up Dynamic, a 99 merit-rated five-year-old Dynasty gelding, returned from a break of well over a year to win both his starts this season over 1600m.
However, Snaith said, “We were very disappointed with his last start. He did win it but in that Graduation Plate race he should have won easier. He was a bit heavy and I have given him a gallop and he will strip fitter. He is a high quality horse but could be just one run short at this level. On ability he is the best of our runners, but there is a question mark over his fitness.” Dynamic is drawn six and Cormack is aboard.
True Master (Liesl King)
Snaith was bullish about the 97-merit rated four-year-old Silvano gelding Arion, who finished a 2,5 length third to Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate in last season’s Investec Cape Derby. He returned from a seven month break to run fourth on his reappearance over 1300m and was then fifth as joint-favourite in the Gr 3 Betting World Algoa Cup over 2000m at Fairview.
Snaith said, “This is one who I’m expecting a good race from and he could be the dark horse. I don’t think he was given a good ride last time and needed the run too. He will strip a lot fitter.” Arion is drawn in pole and Bernard Fayd’Herbe rides.
Snaith said about his other runner, the five-year-old Jallad gelding Johnny Rockets, who jumps from draw 8 with Greg Cheyne aboard, “He runs on strongly but is not the soundest so I am going in fresh and hoping for a good race.”
He concluded about his Premier Trophy runners, “It will take a nice horse to beat them. There is very little in it and it will just depend on which one of them is fittest and soundest on the day. Any one of them could win at their best.”
Snaith said about his other runners on the day, “(1st race) – Captain Blackwater, these workriders’ races are impossible to predict. (2nd race -) I haven’t been hard on my two-year-olds this year, so both Carmina and Rock Jo Emma have chances but are not readied up. (3rd race -) Carmen Silver will run a better race and is almost ready to win. (4th race -) Cap Alright is trying 1400m, so there’s a question mark, Paulo is running fresh, which he likes, so they have each/way chances. (5th race -) Tell Me More is looking for the extra ground and could run a big race, he is a nice one to follow on the day.”
