Clive Robinson
Jet Dark needs no introduction, especially over 1600m, having won the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate as a three-year-old and then winning it again, beating a brilliant field in this year’s rendition.
He is the country’s best horse with a merit rating of 130, and although well beaten last year, he can add the 2022 Gold Challenge to his resume.
In 2021 he used this race as a steppingstone to sharpen up, so that run is best ignored. It is now well documented he usually comes on in leaps and bounds in his second run after a rest and in the main event, this year’s Gold Challenge he should be a hard nut to crack. Banker in all bets.
The stable star filly Captain’s Ransom showed no mercy in a ‘comeback’ Grade 1 sprint last weekend and the yard is in line for a third Grade 1 in just as many weeks – three-year-old filly Silver Darling started the run winning the Woolavington 2000 three weeks back.
While three-year-old fillies didn’t fare well in the open Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint last weekend, a three-year old colt, Alesian Chief, won the headliner-the Grade 1 Golden Horse sprint showing the generation is up to the task. And so Supreme Quest with much in her favour could add, Race 6, the Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes run over 1400m, to her tally.
She won a feature on her track debut and followed that up with a Grade 1 third, placing 0.50 lengths behind subsequent Triple Tiara winner Rain in Holland as a juvenile. To confirm as a three-year-old she recently won a Grade 3 feature before running a cracking second in the Grade 2 Fillies Guineas (finishing well ahead of Silver Darling incidentally), which over 1600m was a stretch for her.
She may not be as well in as Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Marina and Zarina but those fillies have been better over a tad further and Supreme Quest’s love affair with Greyville could continue.
The Grade 3 Cup Trial (Race 5) is just about the last chance for horses trying to get into the Hollywoodbets Durban July and the race is difficult with seasoned Gainsford, Mount Anderson, Gentleman’s Wager, Warrior and Fireally all capable of grabbing the honours but suggest going for newbie to the scene, Airways Law, who has been one of the best finishers (on the Polytrack) seen at Greyville in recent times.
Finally, trainer Mike De Kock looks to have a stranglehold on the juvenile features with Littlemarysunshine (Race 4) and Union Square (Race 5) appearing the professional double on the day.
