01/02/2010
Author : Mark Bass
River Jetez ran the race of her life to win racings ultimate prize, the J&B Met.
The Bass trained own sister to Pocket Power dethroned her illustrious older brother’s reign on the great race, but he steps down gallantly defeated and with heaps of merit after finishing courageously into third position. Mike Bass accomplished an incredible training feat after booting home three of the first four past the post as well as back to back group 1’s, when in the race before, Love Is In The Air dead heated in the Klawervlei Majorca stakes.
Some may see this Met result as a surprise but Bass was confident with his mare heading into the big race on Saturday. “She had put up inspiring work in the preceding weeks and she had a perfect preparation” said Mike. “She had a lot in her favour and she had been showing me signs at home that she may run the race of her career”, which is exactly what she did. In the press build up last week, Mike was adamant that should he (Pocket) fluff his lines that she would probably be the one to turn the tables.
Jockey Glen Hatt was full of praise for the mare and said she ran an astounding race. “She gave me the feeling at the start that she was going to run a huge race and I was confident of a big effort from her. When the gates broke I followed Pocket Power and she was travelling terrifically. When Mother Russia started to make her move I decided she was the one to follow through and at about the 200 marker, I knew my filly had their measure and I had the race won.” “I still had so much horse underneath me that last furlong and she responded with a devastating finish. It just all fell into place”
It brought back great memories for Hatt when he romped home another underdog in 2001 for the Bass stable when upsetting Trademark aboard Bunter Barlow.
For part owners Barbara and Cedric Amm it was a plan that had finally come together. “What a way to get her group 1, its just unbelievable said Cedric.
For Marsh Shirtliff it may have been bitter sweet being that close with Pocket Power but he was very humbled by winning it for a fourth time , and now with two different horses which I’m sure, is an historical achievement on its own. Not only did he win the race, but he also has shares in third placed Pocket Power and 4th placed Fort Vogue.
As for Pocket Power, it is difficult for us not to feel slightly disappointed that he did not pull it off for a fourth time. We could not have asked more from him on Saturday and he ran his usual great race, but the two fillies put up extra ordinary performances.
He got to within half a length of them and all the horses he had to beat were all behind him so what a great effort, he ran his heart out and we’re proud of him.
As Mike explained “ Both River Jetez and Mother Russia could easily have opted for the simpler pickings of the Majorca stakes and Pocket Power would have been the hero of the day once again but that’s the way racing goes and we cant ask any more of him”
Pocket Power got cut into quite badly at some stage during the race and returned lame post race, but this we feel would have had little impact on the final outcome.
Fort Vogue ran an absolute cracker to finish a short head 4th to Pocket Power. We were quietly confident he would run a good race and we are very encouraged by this performance. The form of this race makes a mockery out of the premium stakes in which the gale force winds had a huge effect on the horses. He has turned that form around and he looks to have a really bright future.
His merit would have taken a pounding after this race but we will be taking him to Durban with July firmly in mind next season.
Fort Vogue
Future’s
With regards to the futures of the siblings’, decisions will be made, but in the meantime we will be playing it by ear. There is an inquiry underway to nominate River Jetez for the Sheema Classic in Dubai, but obviously there are travel restrictions and the likelihood looks bleak. Another alternative is to run her in the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein in March and maybe try and slip another grade 1 race onto her already impressive CV. If none of these come to fruition she will be retired to hopefully commence a long and prosperous career as a broodmare.
Pocket Power we feel is still enjoying his racing and we are not looking to retire him just yet. At this stage we would like to send him to Durban for another season but perhaps we will curtail his racing a bit more this time around. The shorter WFA contests like the Gold Challenge will be his main aims for the KZN season and we will probably give the July a skip, it is a gruelling handicap and this should make the season a lot easier on him.
Love is in the Air
“I always thought she had a grade one in her” said Mike, and she duly obliged by dead heating with the De Kock trained Gluwien in The Klawervlei Majorca Stakes.
Love Is In The Air was drawn badly and she got caught wide going into the home straight, so victory here holds great merit for the daughter of Jet Master owned and bred by Pat and Henry Devine. She showed tremendous courage to come back at Gluwein in the closing stages but we were very pleased to share the accolade with De Kock. A few months back she was sidelined with a heart murmur and it was suggested we send her to the farm, so to recover to win a group 1 in this amount of time is an amazing accomplishment.
The race of the day goes to Bravura and Anton Marcus, a demonstration of true class by both horse and rider. He had a really tough task from the draw but these champs find their way home somehow and Bravura looks like a very serious racehorse. Also, a special mention to Jet Master who won three group 1 races on the day, and must surely be one of the greatest Sires ever to come out of our country
Gold Circle and J&B must be commended for the outstanding coverage the Met has received this year. It was encouraging to see an educated on-course response and goes to show just what can be done when you have a hero like Pocket Power to promote the turf.
For Mike Bass Racing it has been a dream ride. A 5th J&B Met and the 4th consecutive victory in this race. What a magnificent training achievement by Mike Bass and a true testament to the great big race trainer he has become. He is a master of his profession and long may it continue.
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