Photo by Liesl King
Sunday, 29 January 2012: South Africa saw a rising star at Kenilworth on Saturday when Jackson dominated the R600,000, Grade 1, Investec Cape Derby (2000m) winning with flair and exuberance from jockey Karis Teetan.
Jackson, trained by Brett Crawford at Phillipi, set off as $2.00 race favourite on STAB and he won in the manner befitting a firm favourite giving his supporters no cause for alarm at any stage.
Teetan settled in fifth on the rails from barrier three following the second favourite Variety Club and Anton Marcus as Mushreq (AUS) and Anthony Delpech took the field at a good pace through the early sectionals.
There was no change in the order as they swung for the cut out rail with 500m to run with Jackson 2L from Mushreq. With 300m to run Marcus had sent Variety Club to the lead, but Teetan had being stalking him. He took Jackson to the middle of the track and set out after Variety Club who was showing no signs of any stamina limitations, a question mark that was over the Grade 1 Cape Guineas winner.
Jackson strode out after Variety Club and it was readily apparent that he was not only going to close but go by with ease. This was exactly what the colt, going away with dominance to win with 2L in hand. Teetan, 21, stood in the irons and dropped his reins in celebration of his second Grade 1 win, and first Derby win.
Variety Club (Var) held up well for second, with Tribal Dance (Tiger Dance) and M J Byleveld third, the margin 2L Potala Place was fourth with Mushreq fifth. The time was 123.54.
Crawford was careful to not get too carried away but he understood the significance of the win. He pointed out that this was just the fifth raceday start for Jackson, but he acknowledged the merit of the win when asked about campaigning on the world stage.
“Not right now but after the Durban July, if that is where we are going to go then he could well, maybe, do something,” he said, “He is only a young horse with five starts.”
“Everything worked my way. He came out and there was the horse I wanted to follow which was Variety Club and he gave me a perfect lead and pace,” said Teetan.
“He did not pull at all. Turning for home I was a little bit worried as Variety Club was travelling in front. But when I moved to him he was going nowhere, so I knew I would win it from the 250m,” he said.
Jackson was a R1 million yearling purchase being a colt by Dynasty out of the Cozzene mare Moonlit Prairie. Bred by Highlands Farms the colt is owned by Messrs I W Longmore and W J C Mitchell.
The now immensely valuable colt came into the race off the back of three straight wins including a last start listed win in the Politician Stakes over 1800m on the course on December 7th. Stakes are now R531,205
Note: Teetan was fined R2,500 for dropping the reins in his victory line celebrations.
