by Karel Miedema

Pocket Power appears poised for a rare repeat victory in the $282,677 (2-million rands) J&B Met (SAf-G1), Cape Town’s marquee race, on Saturday at Kenilworth.

Changes to the weights structure introduced a few months ago make it much more feasible for Pocket Power to end Politician’s long reign as the last repeat winner of the 2,000-meter (9.94-furlong) turf race with his victories in 1978-‘79.

The 2007 J&B Met winner is an odds-on favorite with bookmakers to land the spoils again when he meets 16 challengers, including 2007 Vodacom Durban July Handicap (SAf-G1) victor Hunting Tower and multiple group stakes winner Biarritz.

Co-highweighted at 127 pounds with Hunting Tower and stablemate Floatyourboat, Pocket Power enters off an impressive win in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (SAf-G1) on December 29 at Kenilworth. Trainer Mike Bass’s star Jet Master gelding was outrun for much of that 1,600-meter (7.95-furlong) race, but he took off inside the final 200 meters and made up a tremendous amount of ground to win by 1¾ lengths from Floatyourboat.

Biarritz, who will tote 122 pounds, frequently has produced a dazzling burst of finishing speed. The Count Dubois horse charged from far back to defeat Singing Sword by a head in the London News Stakes (SAf-G3) on December 30 at Turffontein in his most recent start. 

Biarritz’s stamina is a question, however, and many will feel the J&B Met distance may be beyond his best distance.

Karel Miedema is a South Africa-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent

The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:

1. Our Giant (Giant’s Causeway), Richard Fourie, 122, Charles Laird;

2. Buy And Sell (National Emblem), Piere Strydom, 126, Sean Tarry;

3. Bill of Rights (Saumarez [GB]), Tyron Langdon, 122, Mike Bass;

4. Pocket Power (Jet Master), Bernard Fady’Herbe, 127, Mike Bass;

5. Likeithot (Rakeen), Mark Khan, 123, Charles Laird;

6. Pick Six (Rambo Dancer), Anton Marcus, 126, Charles Laird;

7. Succesful Bidder (Jallad), Brett Smith, 127, Sean Tarry;

8. Farolito Qui (Danzig), Christopher Puller, 122, Piet Steyn;

9. Hunting Tower (Fort Wood), Gunter Wrogemann, 127, Charles Laird;

10. Appelate Court (Badger Land), Greg Cheyne, 123, Glen Kotz;

11. Biarritz Count (Dubois), Gavin Lerena, 122, St. John Gray;

12. Hilgrove (Casey Tibbs), Glen Hatt, 123, Mike Bass;

13. Silver Mist (Western Winter), Jamie Spencer, 123, Joey Ramsden;

14. Wonder Lawn (Fort Wood), Gerrit Schlechter, 122, Dean Kannemeyer;

15. Floatyourboat (Jet Master), Karl Neisius, 127, Mike Bass;

16. Dynamite Mike (Fard), Robbie Hill, 122, Mike Azzie; and

17. Jagged Ice (Western Winter), M.J. Byleveld, 123, Dean Kannemeyer.