THIS year’s R2-million, Grade 1
J&B Met is far more open than it looks. Despite all the hype
about the strong Cape contingent, led by L’Ormarins Queen’s
Plate winner Pocket Power, trainers from other centres believe
their runners are not just in there to make up the field.
One of them is
Gauteng conditioner Sean Tarry who won the race two years ago
with Alastor and runs the five-year-old Jallad gelding
Successful Bidder for popular owner Chris van Niekerk.
“I wouldn’t go
to the Cape if I did not think my horse had a chance,” he said
in an interview today (Thursday). “He is a top horse and
although he has not been exposed to the bigger features, I am
expecting a good run from him.”
Racing fans
will remember the emotional scenes in the winner’s enclosure
when Alastor won from Icy Air and Winter Solstice in 2005 with
the young conditioner finding it very difficult to control the
lump that was in his throat. He has gained the respect of his
colleagues and the racing public in his quiet professional
manner and they have come to regard all his runners with
respect.
Successful
Bidder, who is out of the Averof mare Loyal Linda has, in spite
of his lack of feature competition, proven to be a very
competitive individual and has won seven of his 12 starts and
run unplaced just once. He has won five of his last six starts
and was not disgraced in the Victory Moon Handicap at Newmarket
when he finished two lengths fourth to Over Bearing after
experiencing traffic problems. Subsequent Steinhoff
International Summer Cup winner, Malteme, finished behind him in
that 1 800m event.
“He has had
leg problems and that is why he is so lightly raced as a
five-year-old. This is obviously a jump up in class for him and
I hope he can cope.
“I am not
expecting too much from him but I believe he will run well. I
would not go to the Cape if I did not think he had a chance.”
Sean said
Successful Bidder and Alastor were different types of horses and
it was not possible to compare them. While Alastor was a
hard-knocking sort that had been campaigning in features,
Successful Bidder had yet to encounter the level of competition
he meets in the J&B Met.
“I am not
concerned about the 2 000m, he has won over the distance before.
He is drawn well and the pace will determine how things go. I do
not expect to be further back than midfield and with his good
draw he could be closer.”
Successful
Bidder arrived in Cape Town on Wednesday and Tarry said he only
hoped that his preparation over the next 10 days went well.