Last Winter for Jet Master Stakes

LAST WINTER, pictured ,is a surprise nomination for the Jet Master Stakes at Kenilworth’s Prawn Festival meeting on Saturday week but Dean Kannemeyer has made it clear that the Met runner-up will not run unless quarantine plans are knocked back.

He said on Saturday: “I am just waiting to hear that we have been given a slot in the quarantine station. I know that there are quite a few horses in there at the moment.”

Jet Master

The Jet Master was switched from its traditional Cape Guineas day slot in a bid to get more runners – there were only seven last season although there were 11 in the previous campaign – but just 12 were entered last Friday.

Some trainers have pointed out that many otherwise eligible horses are being rested at the moment.

Milton is top-rated in the likely absence of Last Winter and Billy Prestage is hoping that Gavin Lerena (who bounced back by winning on his first three rides at the Vaal on Saturday) will come down to partner the six-year-old on whom the former champion won the Premier Trophy in December.

Joey Ramsden has won the Vasco Prix Du Cap five times in the past 13 seasons and his pair Just Sensual and Rose In Bloom are the highestrated of the 14 entries for Saturday week’s 1 400m Gr 3.

Cape Guineas winner Tap O’Noth is reported 100% following his below-par effort in the Cape Derby – when some of the Vaughan Marshall string were suffering from a possible respiratory virus infection – and goes to Durban.

Marshall said: “You always wonder when you have something like that hanging over you but nothing showed up and we could find no sign of it with him. He is fine now and, while it is early days yet, possible targets are the Daisy Guineas (May 6) and the Rising Sun Gold Challenge (June 9).”