Jet Aglow has bright chance

GLEN Kotzen was bullish about the chances of his two Grade 1 Paddock Stakes contenders Jet Aglow and Beloved Betty ahead of Saturday’s big race. His old campaigner Fabiani, contesting the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, will be tried in first time blinkers.

He said, “Jet Aglow had the fastest 400-to-finish time when third in the Fillies Guineas last time. She has been working well, she has a good draw, is fit and has had a great prep.”

Jet Aglow has recent history on her side as like last year’s winner, Thunder Dance, she is a three-year-old filly by Jet Master. She jumps from draw seven with Grant van Niekerk up.

Beloved Betty, a four-year-old Spectrum filly, jumps from draw three with Chris Puller aboard.

Puller rode her to a fine close-up second in the Grade 3 Victress Stakes over the Paddock Stakes course and distance last time out.

Kotzen said, “The formline of her last start has stood up well and she has been working exceptionally well. Before that in the Algoa Cup she came from 18 lengths back to finish fifth.”

Kotzen made the Mike Bass-trained three-year-old Hammie’s Hooker the horse to beat.

Fabiani

Fabiani, a seven-year-old Model Man gelding, will wear blinkers for the first time. “He doesn’t like horses around him, so we will try the blinkers. This will be his last run in the Queen’s Plate as we will retire him at the end of this season. He faces a high quality field.”

Kotzen’s Champion filly Princess Victoria runs in a conditions event over 1 400m. “This is a prep for the Majorca. She has to give a lot of weight all around, but she is the best filly over this trip in the country.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe will be aboard for the first time having asked for the ride after Princess Victoria’s fierce rival Ebony Flyer was retired.

Kotzen rates all three of the two-year-olds he runs on the day and said that he intended to run all three of them in the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes on J&B Met day.

Govender

Yogas Govender was delighted with the well-being of Razzle Dazzle Rose ahead of her tilt at the Paddock Stakes on Saturday.

He said, “Bernard Fayd’Herbe got off Razzle Dazzle Rose after her last work out and said he reckoned she could win on Saturday. She is probably even better than she was before her last race.”

The four-year-old Jet Master filly at last fulfilled her potential in that last start in the Grade 3 Victress Stakes over the Paddock Stakes course and distance, winning cosily under Fayd’Herbe from pole position.

Before that she had won a handicap event over the same distance in good style from a good draw of three.

The downside on Saturday is her wide draw of 15 out of 15.

Govender said, “From that draw we will have no option, but to drop her out. But this filly has an unbelievable turn of foot and I think she is a good horse for the Place Accumulator.”