The score to date is four-nil to Pocket Power over Silver Mist
but trainer Joey Ramsden feels strongly that come Saturday,
it will be a different story and his four-year-old Western Winter
gelding will turn the tables when they meet again in the R2-million,
Grade 1 J&B Met.
Mike Bass's four-year-old son of Jet Master has beaten Silver
Mist in the Winter Guineas, Winter Classic, Winter Derby and
the recent L'Ormarins Queen's Plate and any bookmaker is likely
to lay the odds for Pocket Power to succeed again in the intriguing
personal battle between these two smart thoroughbreds.
Pocket Power is favourite to win South Africa’s premier summer
racing event and after his gutsy win in the L'Ormarins Queen's
Plate few are looking beyond the smart-looking son of Jet Master
to complete the big Cape Grade 1 double.
But Joey Ramsden sees it differently and was not lacking in
confidence in discussing the chances of his charge when they
break from the 2 000m mark late in the afternoon.
"Yes, he's beaten us in those four races but I feel we
have closed the gap on him."
That would appear to be backed up by the result of the L'Ormarins
Queen's Plate where Silver Mist was flying in the finish and
failed by just a head at the end of the 1 600m event.
"With luck in running I feel we can beat him. Silver Mist
is looking well and working well. His preparation has gone brilliantly
and I don't think I have ever had him better."
Of the opposition he singled out the Mike de Kock-trained Kahal
three-year-old, Emperor Napoleon.
"I was involved with Badger's Coast when he won it in
2000 and I have Emperor Napoleon stabled with me at the moment.
Comparing the two horses if Badger's Coast was able to win the
J&B Met, there is no reason why Emperor Napoleon can't win
it."
Ramsden has two runners in the R400 000, Grade 1 Fancourt Majorca
Stakes - Our Table Mountain to be ridden by stable jockey Glen
Hatt and Asylum Seeker who will have Gauteng jockey Brett Smith
in the irons.
Our Table Mountain is a four-year-old imported filly from the
United States who has won two of her three starts, beaten just
1.5 lengths by Aluvial in the Victress Stakes over 1 800m in
December.
"I put her in that Listed race and was very pleased with
her run in a very competitive field. I'm expecting a very good
run from her and I see her as the dark horse in the race."
Of Asylum Seeker, he said he had only taken over the Count
Dubois filly from Gauteng trainer Roy Magner after she had run
in the Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas where she was beaten
nearly five lengths after having her heels clipped in running.
"She had been sold and was having her first run since
July in the Guineas. In Roy Magner's own words she was not at
her best for that race.
"I put her in the 1 200m Sceptre Stakes and, being her
second run after a break, she was just four lengths back and
I felt it was not a bad run. I'm expecting a good run from her."