FINAL J & B MET RATINGS AND PREVIEW


25 JANUARY 2006


FORM PREVIEW:  Runners are previewed in accordance with our "Best in on Ratings" below.

EYEOFTHETIGER (Brz). - 4-y-o: Rated 134 minus 2lb for wfa allowance: Current Rating 132:
Hinted at greatness with remarkable win at the weights in Vodacom Durban July where he totally outclassed such as Elusive Fort, Lion Tamer and Jagged Ice.

Rested 4 months he has had 3 prep runs - 1200m, 1600m and 1600m - all well short of his best. To quote Dean Kannemeyer: "Eyeofthetiger is working exceptionally well. He ran an indifferent race in the Selango Cup over 1600m at 3 years, and then nearly won the Cape Derby over this tough 2000m next time out. We raced him close to the pace in a fast run Queen's Plate, tactics which I believe were his undoing. He must be forgiven that run and should win here if he is good enough at the weights."

 

SILVERPOINT (Aus) - 5-y-o: Rated 126: To quote Michael Azzie: "I believe that Silverpoint has made vast improvement since finishing 6,5 lengths back in the London News Stakes 3 weeks ago. I definitely had him underdone for that race, so punters should be wary of his odds of 50/1. I will be very disappointed if he doesn't finish in the money. Punters should also respect Stratos in the Majorca. She, too, is doing very well."

 

POCKET POWER - 4-y-o: Rated 126 minus 2lb wfa = 124: This is the form horse in the race, and certainly a worthy favourite. A tough nut to crack.

 

SILVER MIST - 4-y-o: Rated 126 minus 2lb wfa = 124: Went down a short head to Pocket Power in Queen's Plate. Remember this colt is a December foal which means that he raced at a 2 length wfa disadvantage as a 3-y-o. Stable very confident of a big run, so include him in everything.

 

LION TAMER - 4-y-o: Rated 125 minus 2lb wfa = 123: A game front runner whose Summer Cup form suggests good improvement since Vodacom July. Anton Marcus from a good draw earns great respect.

 

JAGGED ICE - 4-y-o: Rated 126 minus 2lb = 124: Won Green Point Stakes then badly hampered in Queen's Plate. Dean Kannemeyer thinks "this horse must be considered for all exotic bets as he is working exceptionally well. Only the race will tell whether we can concede weight to Pocket Power."

 

LIKEITHOT - 4-y-o: Rated 123 minus 2lb = 121lb: A dogged galloper with bottom weight and a good draw and plenty of stamina. He is bang in form and yet another with a chance for money.

 

MAJESTIC SUN - 4-y-o: Rated 124 minus 2lb = 122lb. Very smart form and an excellent draw. Certainly not out of place in this strong field.

 

ELUSIVE FORT - 4-y-o: Rated 128 minus 2 = 126lb: Despite bad draw and big weight, champion trainer Geoff Woodruff is very confident of a big run based on terrific home work.

 

AFRICAN APPEAL - 5-y-o: Rated 121lb. A late run specialist who nearly won the Gr1 Champions Cup. Excellent draw.

 

PINERO - 4-y-o: Rated 121 minus 2 = 119lb. Surprise (and very impressive) winner of Peninsula Hcp in his final prep. With shrewd rider Pierre Strydom from good draw, he could surprise again?

 

HILGROVE - 4-y-o: Rated 123 minus 2 = 121lb: Much improved, but looks well held by Pocket Power and Silver Mist.

 

BADGER'S GIFT - 6-y-o: Rated 118lb: Very impressive winner of Paddock Stakes. Top fillies with bottom weight have a good record in J & B Met.

 

SUCCESSFUL BIDDER: Rated 118lb: Difficult to assess on 7 victories at a lower level than this. A game fighter whom we may have underrated.

 

EMPEROR NAPOLEON - 3-y-o: Rated 132 minus 16lb = 116lb. Unlucky to have lost Cape Guineas when very wide on turn. A star in the making, but he should be held by older runners.

 

SUMMARY:
Pocket Power is hot favourite with good cause. His career track record is impeccable. Game and very consistent! Despite top-class win in Queen's Plate he carries the minimum weight. Tough horse to beat.

Silver Mist rates a short head behind him and must be a very real danger now that the maturity gap (4 month age difference) matters less. Both Dean Kannemeyer and Charles Laird field 2 big challengers. Michael Azzie very bullish about the talented and hitherto inconsistent Silver Point. Of the balance there is not a single no-hoper in the field.

ACCEPTANCES
PUNTER INFO FOR
KENILWORTH at 27 January 2007
Race 7 : J&B MET (Grade 1)  R2000000 (2000m) at 16:20

Best in on ratings | Class indicator | How they rate to finish at best | Equipment changes | Take Note

 

No. Runner Age Sex Draw Kg Lbs Race FMR FMR minus Wt. Jockey Bl Alum. Days since last run
1 EQUAL IMAGE (ARG) 5 G 7 58 128 124 -4 J GEROUDIS   A 6
2 EYEOFTHETIGER (BRZ) 4 C 10 56 123 132 9 G SCHLECHTER B A 25
3 ELUSIVE FORT 4 C 15 56 123 126 3 M KHAN   A 106
4 HILGROVE 4 C 4 54.5 120 121 1 G Schofield   A 25
5 JAGGED ICE 4 G 11 54.5 120 124 4 K NEISIUS   A 25
6 AFRICAN APPEAL 5 G 3 54 119 121 2 G CHEYNE   A 25
7 MAJESTIC SUN 4 C 2 53.5 118 122 4 R Fourie   A 25
8 POCKET POWER 4 C 9 53 117 124 7 J LLOYD   A 25
9 SILVER MIST 4 C 13 53 117 124 7 G HATT B A 25
10 LION TAMER 4 C 5 53 117 123 6 A MARCUS   A 11
11 SILVERPOINT (AUS) 5 G 14 53 117 126 9 G PULLER   A 21
12 PINERO 4 C 8 53 117 119 2 P STRYDOM   A 18
13 LIKEITHOT 4 G 6 53 117 121 4 G FIGUEROA   A 21
14 SUCCESFUL BIDDER 5 C 1 53 117 118 1 B SMITH B A 21
15 EMPEROR NAPOLEON 3 C 16 52 114 116 2 W Marwing   A 18
16 BADGER'S GIFT 6 F 12 51.5 113 118 5 M BYLEVELD   A 23


 
BEST IN ON RATINGS     CLASS INDICATOR
EYEOFTHETIGER (BRZ) 9
SILVERPOINT (AUS) 9
POCKET POWER 7
SILVER MIST 7
LION TAMER 6
BADGER'S GIFT 5
JAGGED ICE 4
LIKEITHOT 4
MAJESTIC SUN 4
ELUSIVE FORT 3
AFRICAN APPEAL 2
EMPEROR NAPOLEON 2
PINERO 2
HILGROVE 1
SUCCESFUL BIDDER 1
EQUAL IMAGE (ARG) -4
   
EYEOFTHETIGER (BRZ) 134
EMPEROR NAPOLEON 132
ELUSIVE FORT 128
JAGGED ICE 126
POCKET POWER 126
SILVER MIST 126
SILVERPOINT (AUS) 126
LION TAMER 125
EQUAL IMAGE (ARG) 124
MAJESTIC SUN 124
HILGROVE 123
LIKEITHOT 123
AFRICAN APPEAL 121
PINERO 121
BADGER'S GIFT 118
SUCCESFUL BIDDER 118
 
 
    This graphic represents the projected order of finish, provided each horse reproduces its best exposed form. Other factors which affect performance, such as: draw, state of going, distance suitability, jockeyship, current form etc., are not factored into this calculation.
Each horse icon = 1 length
EYEOFTHETIGER (BRZ) 0
SILVERPOINT (AUS) 0
POCKET POWER -1.33
SILVER MIST -1.33
LION TAMER -2
BADGER'S GIFT -2.67
JAGGED ICE -3.33
LIKEITHOT -3.33
MAJESTIC SUN -3.33
ELUSIVE FORT -4
AFRICAN APPEAL -4.67
EMPEROR NAPOLEON -4.67
PINERO -4.67
HILGROVE -5.33
SUCCESFUL BIDDER -5.33
EQUAL IMAGE (ARG) -8.67