Lockheed Jetstar back to best trip

After restricting the six-year-old son of Jet Master to races up to 1700m, trainer Geoff Woodruff opted to try him out over 2000m in last month’s Sansui Summer Cup. The problem with this fellow is he is a puller at the best of times and running over a longer distance, in which the race is run at a slower pace, would exacerbate the problem.

The decision was to drop him out and try to find cover near the rear of the field in the hope he would settle. Unfortunately that did not happen. Lockheed Jetstar over-raced for much of the race and was a spent force 400m from home.

This is his best distance and now Halve The Deficit has been withdrawn, Lockheed Jetstar is the best weighted runner. Woodruff has engaged Gavin Lerena for the ride and anybody who did their money on Lockheed Jetstar in the Summer Cup should be able to recoup their losses.

The danger could lie with Bouclette Top, who also comes off the Summer Cup form line. The Alec Laird-trained runner finished 2.50 lengths ahead of Lockheed Jetstar but is 1.5kg worse off. He is held by Woodruff’s charge on their Charity Mile performances as Bouclette Top finished one length behind Lockheed Jetstar who is 1kg better off.

However, this is a horse with plenty of ability on his day and with Weichong Marwing up Bouclette Top should give a good account of himself.

Woodruff has some decent back-up with Sabadell, who bounced back to best with a narrow victory over stable companion Shadow Ofhis Smile last time. He is 2.5kg out with Lockheed Jetstar but Piere Strydom takes the ride and the five-year-old son of Var should make his presence felt.

Best bet on the card could be Carry On Alice in Race 2, a Progress Plate over 1160m. She has to beat a good one in Not Sulking, who has not raced since June when beaten by Featherfoot in a Conditions Plate.

Carry On Alice perhaps just failed to see out 1600m in the Ipi Tombe Stakes on Summer Cup Day but she is unbeaten over the course and distance. On paper Not Sulking, who will be ridden by Strydom, has a massive weight advantage of 3.5kg but the daughter of Trippi might prefer a little further and could be in need of the run.

Carry On Alice, who has S’manga Khumalo in the irons, is a year younger than her rival but it appears she comes from a strong group of three-year-old fillies and she has beaten the boys on more than one occasion.