Jubilee Line looking to get back on track

If you had told Mike de Kock 18 months back that Ju­bilee Line would only be a two-time winner in May 2017 he would have said you were living in Cloud Cuckoo Land.

Unfortunately this son of Dy­nasty has just not delivered what he had promised early in his ca­reer and right now De Kock will be happy if the four-year-old gelding can win a MR 86 Handicap over 2000m at the Vaal tomorrow.

After he finished a 6.25-length fifth behind Abashiri in last year’s Grade 1 SA Derby the decision was taken to geld Jubilee Line and when he made his return to the course he was well supported to win his comeback run with 53.5kg on his back. Only four horses ran in that event but the De Kock run­ner was well supported and went off at 7-10. However, despite con­ceding 8kg to the favourite, Judi­cial got up close home to score a snug one-length victory.

Jubilee Line was then sup­ported to win the Grade 3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m at Turf­fontein but faded from the 400m mark to finish 6.10 lengths behind Liege. After another rest he man­aged to notch up his second career victory when beating Nephrite by 1.25 lengths in a Novice Plate over 1400m at the Vaal.

He has gone on to run three more times without much suc­cess but his last start when a 3.50-length fifth behind Amazing Strike at Turffontein last month was promising and with the stable in top form Jubilee Line could be ready for win No 3.

The one concern is whether his merit rating is still not too high. He raced off a 92 rating in the Der­by and is now down to 86. Much of that is just a weight-for-age ad­justment as he has got older but if one considers Nephrite races off a rating of 70 and, giving him just 1.5kg, Jubilee Line could only beat him by 1.25 lengths in a Plate race it does appear the handicappers have perhaps been a little mingy when it comes to reducing his rating but that will be better as­sessed after tomorrow’s race.

The main threat could come from Save The Rhino who has come to hand since trainer Or­mond Ferraris put his charge over ground. Others with chances in­clude Hamaan, Amsterdam and Glider Pilot, who has won his only start and could be anything.