Youngster gives elders KO blow
CORONATION: 1 600M KING CROWNED IN QUEEN’S PLATE Mission fulfilled as Queen Supreme completes Paddock Stakes double.
Jet Dark, the only threeyear-old in Saturday’s Grade 1 Queen’s Plate delivered a knockout blow to accomplished older horses in the 1600m epic, just as Gimmethegreenlight did for Snaith Racing in 2012.
After Hurricane Harry had set a steady pace with Cirillo and Silver Operator stalking, it was Rainbow Bridge who made what seemed the decisive move in deep stretch down the centre.
However, Jet Dark was hurtling through down the inside under jockey Grant van Niekerk, and this momentum carried the Trippi colt past Rainbow Bridge just short of the wire.
Short-priced favourite Belgarion stayed on from near the back to get third with Do It Again making progress into the quartet slot.
Wry cynics have given jockeys a dubious reputation for often being the worst judges – even American Hall of Famer Eddie Arcaro quipped that when he retired he wanted to be the bookie taking bets in the jockeys’ room.
However, trainer Justin Snaith paid fulsome tribute to Van Niekerk, revealing that he only supplemented Jet Dark for the Queen’s Plate on the advice of this emerging, world-class jockey after a particularly impressive early morning workout.
“Grant has magic in his hands and can win on anything,” said Snaith.
He was described by Snaith as a “precocious miler who only got beat in the Cape Guineas after being drawn in the bush”.
Peeking far into the future is tricky, even for knowledgeable pedigree buffs, but Snaith speculated that Jet Dark may well end up in a stallion barn.
It was mission fulfi lled for Queen Supreme in the Cartier Paddock Stakes, as she doubled up on last year’s romp.
The Irish-bred mare stamped her class in a true-run 1800m affair after Heart Stwings had set a torrid pace.
Clouds Unfold snared three-yearold Princess Calla in a head-bobber for second with another of the new generation fi llies, Chat Ching, an honourable fourth.
Winning trainer Mike de Kock described Queen Supreme as a quirky customer and was full of praise for his charge who raised her game when it counted with jockey Keagan de Melo in the irons. –
Grant has magic in his hands