Mirage Drive may be the right one
Jet Jamboree is weighted to win by 4.50 lengths when he lines up in a 1600m Pinnacle Stakes at the Vaal today, but Dominic Zaki’s runner seems to have lost the plot in his last two runs and cannot be relied upon to run to his rating.
Picture: AFP
So it might pay to side with Tyrone Zackey’s runner Mirage Drive, who has enjoyed his forays on to the Vaal sand.
The first time he ran on this surface he beat Capricorn Ridge by 2.50 lengths over 1800m. In his very next start he kept on well for second to 4.25-length winner Augustinus, getting outsprinted in the closing stages. He is 5kg better off with Augustinus (lame and downfield in his next start) and should turn the tables.
His last two runs were on the turf and he has faded late in both races, the first when a 3.50-length sixth behind Eurakilon over 1800m on the inside track at Turffontein and the other when a well-beaten eighth behind Summer Cup runner Master Sabina in an 1800m race on the standside track at Turffontein.
This eight-year-old has drawn well at No 4 and looks sure to give his supporters a good run for their money.
Brooks-Club failed to feature in the Charity Mile this month and there were excuses for his run in the Emerald Cup over 1450m here in his penultimate start because he was not optimally drawn and had to be switched at a crucial stage. He finished seventh behind Tommy Gun, with Jet Jamboree two lengths ahead of him in fifth. He meets Jet Jamboree on 2kg better terms and could turn the tables from a better draw.
Jet Jamboree has never finished unplaced over this course and distance with his form including a win over Straw Market back in June. He has not run over the trip again since and is not without hope. Worryingly, he did not stride out in the Victory Moon Stakes at Turffontein this month and that run was only 10 days ago. Only this race will tell whether he has had enough time to recover from that problem.
Bottom weight Lucky Hand has won two of her five starts over this course and distance, including a win over Miss K in July, the last time she raced on the Vaal sand.
She did well over 1800m in her next two starts, finishing second in both, but then lost a shoe when making no impression in a race won by Ataab over 1600m at Turffontein last time out. She could make her presence felt.
Samogan made a fair comeback from a short rest when a well-beaten third behind Brad’s Surge over 1450m at this track this month and should improve with that run under his girth, while Brad’s Surge is another who could place, even though he looks well held by Augustinus.
