Yeni, Kennedy are the two to follow
Kapama’s consistency to be rewarded
Jacko Boy has been in a different class since switching yards and conditioner Barend Botes’ decision to step this four-year-old up in distance – 1800m to 2000m – has proven genius because she has not missed the first three placings in her last three outings.
This dual winning daughter of Jackson was beaten by an appalling draw (No 9 of 11) more than anything else most recently.
This disadvantage forced her to run on from near last passing the 300m marker, needing to make up a lot of ground.
Once the right gaps opened up, Jacko Boy produced a powerful turn of foot under an animated Muzi Yeni – who retains the ride – and was beaten a rapidly diminishing 0.10 lengths into second by Jive Express.
And it did not help that she conceded 3kg to that rival. Jacko Boy should reward all those who remain faithful when she runs in Race 8, an FM 76 Handicap over 2000m at the Vaal Classic track today.
She has the ability – and proved it when a three-length victor over this trip in her penultimate outing. Despite shouldering top-weight of 60kg today, she will be extremely hard to peg back if she reproduces anything close to that triumph.
Jive Express is 1kg worse off with the selection for that short-head success, however, considering Jacko Boy is decently drawn at No 6, St John Gray’s charge may find it very hard to reconfirm her superiority.
In Jive Express’ favour, she gets an in-form jockey aboard in Warren Kennedy.
Unfortunately, she tends to be the model of inconsistency so is hard to recommend for the win. One-time winner Kapama’s consistency should be rewarded when she teams up with jockey Karl Zechner in Race 5, an FM 68 Handicap over 1450m.
There was a lot to like about this runner from Brett Webber’s stable at her latest attempt when running on from a hopeless position over today’s distance to finish second, beaten a diminishing length by the highly rated Tallinn.
Kapama by far has the best form in this 9-horse field and from a No 5 draw looks the closest thing to a Pick 6 banker on the card.
A Highveld meeting rarely concludes without the jockey-trainer combination of Kennedy and Paul Peter winning a race.
They are likely to add to their rising tally when ultra-consistent Gold Griffin lines up in Race 9, an MR 72 Handicap over 2400m.