The 2007 J&B Met is set to be another spectacular event, said Gavin Pike, Marketing Director of Brandhouse, at the barrier draws held this morning in the Parade Ring at Kenilworth Racecourse.
All picnic sites, dining rooms, every balcony, every facility available for pre-booking has been sold. Early indicators suggest that the house-full signs may well be going up once again this year.
2007 is to be the 30th staging of the J&B Met, which makes it one of the longest running event sponsorships in South Africa , and Pike announced that J&B have signed to extend the sponsorship until at least 2010.
The ruling favourite for the R2-million, Grade 1 J&B Met at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town on January 27, Pocket Power, has drawn well at 10. Trainer Mike Bass was very happy with this draw, as was jockey Jeff Lloyd. Bass' two other charges, Hilgrove and African Appeal, drew very favourably at four and three respectively.
Drawn on the paint is Sean Tarry's Successful Bidder with Basil Marcus' Majestic Sun one off the inside rail.
Karen Newsome of Fieldspring Racing, owners of Vodacom Durban July Champion, Eyeofthetiger, was delighted with the draw of 11, and said that there was no explanation for his under-performance in the Queen's Plate. The horse was in fine fettle and will be spot-on for the race. Jagged Ice, also from the Dean Kannemeyer stable, drew 12 while the third member of the team, Cyclonic, was badly drawn out at 18.
Charles Laird has three entries for the race and while Lion Tamer at five and Likeithot at six both drew well, Hunting Tower had the worst of the draw at 20.
Laird was unavailable for comment as he is in Australia .
Also not well drawn at 17 was Geoff Woodruff's Elusive Fort and Mike de Kock's SA Bloodstock Cape Guineas runner-up Emperor Napoleon at 19. Woodruff could not be contacted for comment on his runner's draw or on reports related to a virus in his stable that might prevent Elusive Fort taking part in the race.
De Kock, who is on his way to Dubai but will be back for the J&B Met, said he was quite happy with the draws of both Equal Image and Emperor Napoleon.
“The draw doesn't affect either of them as they both come from off the pace and the wide draw for Emperor Napoleon is better for him.”
Equal Image, the ride of British jockey Jamie Spencer, is well drawn at seven with the lone KwaZulu-Natal contender, Pinero, at eight.
De Kock said there was no particular reason why he had engaged Jamie Spencer to ride Equal Image. “He was available and that's it. But he may not be able to ride because he picked up a suspension yesterday (Monday). I am just waiting to hear.”
Unfazed by the draw, Joey Ramsden's Silver Mist, who fought out the finish of the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate with Pocket Power, is drawn a little wide at 15 but he too could benefit from scratchings and eliminations at the final acceptance stage.
Paul Lafferty, trainer of the four-year-old Dominion Royale gelding, Pinero, said his draw at eight was very pleasing as the gelding had shown he could race up with the pace and the draw would be an advantage.
“His win in the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Peninsula Handicap was very good as he beat Wonder Gold who is highly thought of and we gave him 4.5kg. With 4kg less on his back he has a good galloping weight and Karl Neisius told me after the race that Pinero was a good galloper.
“Obviously this is a much stronger field but we are pleased to be in it. We live in the dream factory and if we can finish in the money we will be happy.”
Paul said Pinero was being cared for in the Cape by his very able assistant Byron Foster and they are in contact every day.
“I will be there for the week leading up to the J&B Met for the final preparations for the race.”
Paul said he had not yet decided on a jockey and it would depend on who was available.
The consensus seems to be that the bookmakers have got it right – Pocket Power is the one to beat, and considering the current good form of the owners Marsh Shirtliff and company, 15/10 is a fair price.