Snaith’s Met day comments

JUSTIN Snaith has two massive runners on J&B Met day at Kenilworth on Saturday, Agra (photo) and Ebony Flyer, while the L’Ormarins Queens Plate winner Gimmethegreenlight will also go into the main race with a big chance and there are other chances for the yard too including Derby hopeful Changingoftheguard.

Ebony Flyer was favourite for the Queen’s Plate, but ran a flat race and the yard have freshened her up since in preparation for the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes, a weight for age event for fillies and mares over 1600m.

The massive daughter of Jet Master looked terrific yesterday (Monday) and jumping from the pens over 600m on the Philippi grass with Skip West, who is no slouch, she quickly put a few lengths between herself and the latter in effortless fashion.

Snaith said, “She’s doing better than she was for the Queen’s Plate and 5-2 is good value. Her breathing is a bit of a concern, but if she’s right they’ll battle to beat her.”

She certainly could not be faulted yesterday and Snaith made her his second best runner on Saturday’s card.

Snaith also runs Dance With Al in the Majorca and said, “She’s better suited to the mile these days, but it’s a very competitive race.”

Agra, who was the first runner and first winner of the exciting sire Trippi in this country, won her debut over 900m in impressive fashion despite being slow away.

Snaith is very confident of her chances in the Listed Schweppes Summer Juvenile Stakes and said, “She is my best bet on the card. She is flying at home.”

He added that The Terminator was also working well and “could be in the first three in this race.”

Gimmethegreenlight, the magnificent looking Australian three-year-old colt by More Than Ready who is currently quoted at 7-1, was also looking in good shape.

Snaith said of his chances in the J&B Met over 2000m, “He is one of the horses to beat if he stays. He is doing very well and I think he has a chance of staying as the race should be run at an easier pace than the Queen’s Plate.”

Gimmethegreenlight produced a strong finish in the Queen’s Plate to catch Variety Club, who had looked all over the winner.

He has a fair draw of eight.

Snaith’s Run For It has drifted to 14-1 and he said, ”He’s doing exceptionally well. His last run can be ignored as he was forced to go to the front. He will be given a quiet ride this time and will be running on.”

Snaith’s other Met hopeful Emerald Cove has a hard task at the weights, but has been claimed into 20-1 from an opening of 40-1.

He said, “She had to be tranquilised after the Paddock Stakes (a fillies and mares Grade 1 over 1800m where she was defending her crown) as she had been cut into eight times. She has recovered and put up an exceptional gallop at the Met Gallops. She moved better than any other horse on the day and her run to Tales Of Bravery in her penultimate start must make her a runner.”

Snaith made Igugu the one to beat if she runs and added, “The older horses haven’t been that impressive. Bravura was caught three wide in the Queen’s Plate and is the one to beat of the older horses. The Apache is a very good horse, but was beaten a couple of times in Johannesburg, which is not ideal.”

Justin’s father Chris reckoned Tales Of Bravery would be a big runner at the weights.

Snaith’s Go Deputy colt Changingoftheguard has always had the Investec Cape Derby as his mission.

He said, “It’s a competitive race, but the further the better for him so he’ll enjoy the step up in trip. He was shin sore so I couldn’t gallop him before the Politician Stakes, so he needed that race. We’ve galloped him now and he’s a lot fitter, but Jackson is going to be hard to beat.”

Snaith has two runners in the first race, a MR88 Handicap over 1400m, and said, “Boundless Blue might need it, but his work is good and he may be a value bet. President Of Pop might be outgunned in this sort of field, but is drawn well and has Felix up so has an each-way chance.”

In race two, a fillies and mares MR88 Handicap, he has four runners and said, “Skip West had feet problems which we’ve sorted out, so she should now keep on improving (she’s won two of her last three).Ocean’s Swift won a very good race last time and is working well. It’s between her and Skip West. Naughty Girl is too inconsistent, but we’ve worked on her back muscle problem and Anthony Delpech has a great strike rate for me. Christina ran a good race last time and with the 4kg claimer up could be in the money.”

In race four, a MR103 Handicap over 1600m, Snaith runs Soweto Slew and said, “It’s a very hard race and he’s not well in at the weights. It won’t be easy, but I’m hoping for a good run.”

Snaith runs two in the eighth, a MR96 Handicap over 1200m, and said, “Cap Alright is doing well and is in good form. Great Fox has been doing very good work at home and has a nice weight, so could be a dark horse. Divine Jet will be hard to beat.”

He also has two in the ninth, a fillies and mares MR84 Handicap over 2000m, and said, “Roczinta has had a great gallop into the race and is nicely weighted. Audrey Rose  is very consistent and will run a good race.”

Snaith runs Mystic Moon in the Grade 2 J&B Reserve Stayers over 2800m and said, “Piere Strydom might have to catch a plane, so might not ride him. This was the only race we could find for him with his high merit rating, but he looks to be wanting ground and will be a big runner if he does stay as he’s well weighted.” – David Thiselton.