Met Panel Discussion

Titch Wrote:

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> ManP Wrote:
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> > Fortune was very cagey about the chances of
> Lake
> > Arthur. Does he know something we don't?
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> He has only worked it once on the sand and Vee
> wanted to know if it would stay??

thats your version Titch....<

gregbucks Wrote:

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> thats your version Titch....<


As happy as i will be to see Yogas crack another, I cannot give the horse any sort of chance..

Dean Kannemeyer live on Expresso SABC 3 tomorrow morning at 6h30 discussing J & B 2014 Met

Snaith hits out at Met gallops
(28 January 2014)
David Thiselton
Trainer Justin Snaith hit out at the ruling that forces J&B Met runners to attend public gallops at Kenilworth just nine days before the big race after his fancied contender Jet Explorer returned injured.
Jet Explorer pulled a shoe during the gallop last Thursday and “banged his leg”, meaning the yard is now in a race against time to have him ready.
“I have five days to get his foot right, I have my work cut out and at the moment it is a 50/50 call,” said Snaith yesterday.
The annoyed Phillippi trainer said he was not against public gallops, but stressed that in this “professional era” the trainer should be “given the option”.
He pointed out that a lot of public money was invested in this race and that punters and owners should be able to have confidence that their charge had been given the best possible preparation.
He also compared the Met gallops to the Vodacom Durban July version.
“I can understand the July gallops as it is a tradition that has been around for decades, but this is not the July, it’s the Met, and I’m not sure where this idea came from to all of a sudden change it in the Western Cape. It is madness and the only thing that takes a hammering is the poor horse.
“Jet Explorer was so well after running a cracker in the Queen’s Plate and a horse in his condition will perform and fresh up when brought in front of people, so I had not wanted to bring him to the gallops and the horse had not wanted to be there either. Besides the Thursday before the following Saturday is too close. It must also be remembered that we are dealing with 30 degree heat at this time of the year in Cape Town! It is not Durban in July. Furthermore, we were told that we had to have our horses here by 7 o’ clock meaning the number one on the list can get in and out quickly but Jet Explorer was number 10 and had to ring for an hour before it was his turn. He was on course for two hours.”
Snaith said that ideally he would have brought Jet Explorer to Kenilworth for a quiet workout the day before, as he had done with some of his other Met day runners.
However, he emphasised that in the latter case the trainer had the option and that this regularly performed routine took just twenty minutes to complete.
He continued, “This must be the only sport in the world where you are forced to show your players before the main event. We were told that if we did not bring our horses they would be scratched. The most important thing before a big race should be the horse’s wellbeing and not ten people who want to watch it.
“The trainer should be given every chance to get the horse to the race in the best possible condition.
“The public who have backed it would also like to know that the trainer has been able to do this and so of course would the owner.
“I am not against the gallops, but the trainer should be given the option. This is a race worth millions, the horse’s performance is potentially of great value and to have this forced upon you is madness.
“This is the professional era, it’s not the old days, and trainers monitor their horses before deciding their program for the day. What happens for example if it had not eaten well the night before, it would not want to gallop that day, and you would adjust its program accordingly. Things like this can change the result of the race.”
Snaith pointed out that he was not the only trainer opposed to the compulsory gallops and said a trainers’ meeting was in the pipeline to discuss whether they would accept the ruling in the future or make a stand against it.
The J&B Met gallops were likely started in an attempt to duplicate the feverish on course atmosphere associated with the popular Vodacom Durban July gallops, but it does not appear to have had the desired effect and is still relatively sparsely attended. However, Snaith did reveal that horses of his had picked up injuries in the July gallops before too.
Jet Explorer finished like an express train in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate on January 11 for an eye-catching 1,55 length third. There was consequently a flood of money wagered on him and he plunged down to 8-1 in the ante-post market.
However, he is now back out to 12-1 with Betting World.
Snaith concluded, “I am not saying that we trainers are against galloping our horses, but if a punter or owner had the choice would he rather see his horse having a televised canter or have his horse being given the ideal prep into the race.
“The gallops have put a dampener on Met day for me, but we will still be trying our best to have him ready on the day. ”

David Thiselton
Johannesburg raider Wylie Hall leaves for Cape Town today where he will attempt to win Saturday’s R2,5 million J&B Met over 2 000m at Kenilworth.
Trainer Weiho Marwing said, “All is ok, his prep has been good and we are backing our chances.”
Blinkers were fitted to the Australian-bred colt before his last start in the Grade 3 London News Stakes over 1 800m at Turffontein in order to “sharpen him up in the early part of the race.”
As it happened he was forced to go for home early in the straight due to a narrowing gap, so did very well to only be caught in the final stride by Tellina and Killua Castle, to whom he gave 1,5kg and 3kg respectively.
The four-year-old by top Australian stallion Redoute’s Choice will have to carry a 2kg Grade 1 penalty in the J&B Met having won last season’s SA Derby over 2 450m at Turrffontein.
However, he showed when a fast finishing 0,25 length fourth in the Grade 1 Daily News at Greyville that he can handle an easy 2 000m.
He is drawn well in six on Saturday and his regular pilot, the National jockey’s log leader S’Manga Khumalo, will be aboard.
Last season Khumalo won two of South Africa’s three big ones, the Vodacom Durban July and the Sansui Summer Cup, and this will be his first ever ride in the Met. Wylie Hall is currently a 22-1 chance with Betting World.

David Thiselton
Gavin van Zyl brought back memories to the racing public when putting his J&B Met contender No Worries through his paces at the public gallops at Kenilworth last Thursday as it was clear that the style that earned him the nickname “pots and pans” during his riding days had not changed.
The now Summerveld-based trainer was very pleased with the four-year-old Kahal gelding’s gallop and having also ridden him before the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate said that the horse was better now than he had been before the latter race.
He added, “This is his preferred trip and it is now just a question of overcoming the draw, but I will leave that to the master Piere Strydom.
“I will produce him in good condition and it will then be up to Piere to ride him whichever way he feels is right. He knows the horse well now and is a good judge of pace, so I will leave the planning entirely up to him.”
Van Zyl said the way a tennis player deals with the ball as it approaches would be an apt analogy to use when depicting the decision making process of a jockey during a race.
He said a split second judgement on pace and position was made just after the off and it was then taken from there.
There are few jockeys in the world who can match Strydom in the department of tactical nous, not to mention natural riding talent, so Van Zyl will be confident that No Worries will be given every chance.
The draw is still a niggling concern, although it is eased slightly by the knowledge that the outstanding filly Mother Russia failed narrowly to win the race from the same draw of 18 in 2010 when caught late by River Jetez, to whom she conceded 1,5kg.
No Worries’ two best performances as a three-year-old came in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and the Vodacom Durban July after blinkers had been fitted and a new tactic of holding him up off the pace had been employed.
This resulted in powerful finishes from a long way for a respective short-head defeat and a gallant fourth place.
However, it was soon evident down in Cape Town this season that he had become too keen with the blinkers on.
He pulled early in both the Gr2 Green Point Stakes over 1 600m under Brandon Lerena and the Gr2 Calulo Services Premier Trophy over 1 800m under Strydom.
He led in the Green Point and was only run out of it late to finish fourth and finished unplaced in the Premier Trophy. Strydom then recommended the removal of the blinkers in order that the horse might revert to hold up, running on tactics.
However, the wily jockey had a rethink before the Queen’s Plate and took him to the front, adjudging that this would give the horse the best possible chance of overcoming a wide draw in a race that was clearly going to lack pace. The strapping chestnut fought on gamely to finish a 2,3 length fourth. Strydom’s immediate post-race report was that No Worries had been outpaced in the finish and would relish the 2 000m trip of the Met. The tactics Strydom employs on Saturday will be one of the big race talking points over the next few days.
Last year Aldo Domeyer had been content to race one wide in a handy position from a wide draw of 14 on the eventual winner Martial Eagle.
Furthermore, the runner up Hill Fifty Four had initially been two wide from a draw of 15 before slotting in behind the pacemaker Pomodoro as they went into the first bend.
No Worries, like Martial Eagle had been last year, will be better off at the weights with two horses that finished in front of him in the Queen’s Plate.
He will be 2kg better off with both Capetown Noir and Jackson for a 2,3 and 1,05 length beating respectively, although he will face Jet Explorer, who beat him by 0,75 lengths, on the same terms.
Another parallel that can be drawn with Martial Eagle is that No Worries has been taken for regular walks in the sea during the build up.
Van Zyl’s Cape string has been resident at the Noordhoek Beach training facility of Mike Stewart.
No Worries is currently a 20-1 shot on the Betting World boards and his passionate owner Brian “Buffalo Bill” Burnard will be among the many shouting him home.

Was an entertaining show. The only thing missing was Robert Bloomberg.

Vee comes with all his numbers but somehow he puts Whiteline Fever in the mix. The horse hasn't finished better than 4th in 5 attempts over 2000m or more.

He was carrying on about Jackson running below his rating over a mile but failed to mention that Jackson's rating is based on his ability beyond a mile.

Master of My Fate looks a class act but it's his first Grade 1 and I'm not tempted to back an unproven horse at 5-2 in the Met.

The Met often works out to be a tactical affair so I hope there's a decent pace and no hard luck stories. Looking forward to the big race!

A hoof injury almost put paid to the racing career of J&B Met favourite
Master Of My Fate before he ever ran, but trainer Dennis Drier believes it
could have been a blessing in disguise.
“He had to stand in the box for eight months and at one stage we didn’t
think he would see a racetrack,” said Drier yesterday. “It’s not normal to
want a race-threatening injury, but he is a big horse and that could have
worked in his favour and given him time to grow.
“Of course, it’s sad he missed his entire three-year-old career and all the
classics.”
Once Master Of My Fate got to the track Drier knew he had something
special. “After he won his third start I said to breeder Carl de Vos that
if all goes well, this could be my Met horse.”
That must have been welcome news for his connections, who forked out R3
million for the son of Jet Master as a yearling. Master Of My Fate is
currently 5-2 favourite for the R2.5-million race to be run over 2000m at
Kenilworth Racecourse on Saturday.
Drier has worked with some top horses in a career spanning 45 years,
including Met second favourite Jackson, who he trained in KwaZulu-Natal
last winter. “They’re both very talented, but Master Of My Fate is a lot
easier to work with. He is one of the best I’ve trained!”
Despite his talent Master Of My Fate has his quirks. “This horse knows he’s
good and he tests you. He’s not malicious but he’s bloody naughty. In his
box he is as gentle as a lamb. You can walk around or have a model stand
right next to him and he’s fine.
“But the minute you take him out the box he stands on his hind legs and has
everybody running for cover in case he gets loose. He stands taller than 16
hands so when he goes up, he goes right up until he is almost erect. The
frightening thing that goes through your head is that he will fall over
backwards. e.tv wants to film him but I can’t take him out the box.”
Once in a racing atmosphere, that all changes. “He’s fine at the start. We
use a pony just to get him out of the parade ring, but once he is on his
way he is perfect. Hopefully as he gets older, he will get out of the
naughtiness.”
Master Of My Fate had his final fast workout on Tuesday morning. “He’s done
everything we asked of him and I think he’s a big runner.
“We really thought the 9kg penalty he got for winning the Premier’s Trophy
would have told in the Peninsula Handicap. I was doubtful, but he did it
with such ease. I planned this a long time ago. He’s proved himself and
he’s matured all the while,” said Drier.
Despite his years in the business Drier admits he still feels the pressure.
“For any race there’s pressure, but when it comes to the Met, Summer Cup or
the Durban July there is added pressure.”

Jack Milner

Fancied runner Jet Explorer is a doubtful starter for Saturday’s J & B Met
after injuring a fetlock.
National trainers’ log leader Justin Snaith said: “Jet Explorer pulled a
shoe during the public gallops last Thursday and banged a fetlock which is
still very tender. In other respects the horse is well and he may be
completely fine in three days’ time. But it’s the Met we are preparing for
and he needs to be in peak condition. We will make a final decision on
Friday.”
This is most unfortunate news for owners Pat and Henry Devine as their Jet
Master gelding was rounding towards a career best after an exceptional run
in the Grade 1 Queens Plate over 1600m three weeks ago.
Held up for a run, the Jet Master gelding made up nine lengths in the final
400m with a powerful finish propelling him to within 1.50 lengths of
brilliant miler Capetown Noir.
And in the Champion Cup over 1800m at Greyville last year, Jet Explorer got
within 2.50 lengths of Jackson. He is slightly better off at the weights
now, which brings him into the mix for Met glory.
So astute early bird punters who swooped on the 33-1 available about Jet
Explorer in the early Met betting, will share the connections’ anxiety over
the now 10-1 shot’s wellbeing.
Concerns have been raised over his ability to see out the distance, but the
Kenilworth 2000m is as easy as that distance gets and the Met has been won
before by horses with suspect stamina but a powerful turn of foot - an
attribute Jet Explorer certainly possesses.
It will take all of Justin Snaith’s consummate training skills to deal with
this mishap. And, as a fine and considerate horseman, he will act in the
best interests of Jet Explorer, be it as a Met participant, or not.

Jack Milner

Even if Jet Explorer does run to have an interruption that close to a big race must surely put paid to any chance he had.

shrek Wrote:

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> Even if Jet Explorer does run to have an
> interruption that close to a big race must surely
> put paid to any chance he had.


Yip - there goes one of my ante-post fancies

What did Brett Crawford say about Futura and Zacharias?