J J the Jet Plane overcomes turbulence in Al Quoz

Last updated: 3/26/11 7:57 PM

J J the Jet Plane defied a cutback in trip

(Mathea Kelley/Dubai Racing Club)

South African champion J J THE JET PLANE (Jet Master) didn’t have the
smoothest of trips in Saturday’s $1 million Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G2), but the
highest-rated horse in the field simply called upon his abundant class to get up
in a tight four-way photo. Ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herbe with nerves of steel,
the prohibitive favorite deftly slipped out of a pocket and turned on the
afterburners to nip War Artist (Orpen) and Better Be the One (More Than Ready),
with Invincible Ash (Invincible Spirit) a close fourth.

J J the Jet Plane was regaining his Al Quoz title first garnered in 2009,
when it was held over six grassy furlongs at old Nad al Sheba. This year,
however, the Al Quoz was trimmed to an about five-furlong turf dash, raising the
question of whether the “Lucky” Houdalakis charge might be vulnerable at the
shorter trip.

“We didn’t come here initially to win this race, we wanted the Group 1 at
1200 meters (the Dubai Golden Shaheen on Tapeta),” Houdalakis admitted, “but a few things went
horribly wrong with him earlier this year. We got him back on track at his last
start and although 1000 meters is short of his best, he has brilliant, natural
pace and it was going to take something really good to get away from him.”

The start of the Al Quoz Sprint was shrouded in fog at the head of the Meydan
straightaway, as the speedsters congregated toward the center of the course.
Inxile (Fayruz), Mr Gruff (Mr. Greeley), Better Be the One and Happy Dubai
(Indian Ridge) were prominent once the field raced out of the mist, but the
classy campaigner War Artist started to pull away on the outside.

“J J” takes a bow as proud foreman Everisto Nyambo (right) hoists the flag
(Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club)

Meanwhile, Better Be the One was emerging as the main danger on the far side
of the course. J J the Jet Plane, who was caught behind rivals momentarily,
maneuvered his way through to split horses. Quickening boldly, he began to
overhaul Better Be the One, his nearest competitor, but likely never even saw
War Artist on the opposite side. Nevertheless, J J the Jet Plane found just
enough in the nick of time to prevail by a head in a final time of :59 on the good turf.

“I was alone,” Olivier Peslier said of his trip aboard War
Artist. “There was nobody
with me, and then he got me on the line.”

Third-placer Better Be the One was another head behind War Artist.

“I got to the front
in the last furlong and I could feel J J coming home strongly,” Better Be the
One’s jockey Danny Beasley said. “His class kicked
in, in the end.”

Invincible Ash, who was racing on War Artist’s side of the course,
was another short head adrift in fourth.

“I thought I had it,” rider Johnny Murtagh said. “I pulled out behind
War Artist. I thought I would pick him off and then I didn’t see J J
coming from behind me, and he got the pair of us.”

There was a gap of 2 1/4 lengths back to Prohibit (Oasis Dream [GB])
in fifth. Inxile came in sixth, followed by Triple Aspect (Danetime),
Quick Enough (High Brite), Mar Adentro (Marju), Happy Dubai, Spin Cycle
(Exceed and Excel), Monsieur Joe (Choisir), Stradivinsky (Stravinsky),
Sole Power (Kyllachy), Piccadilly Filly (Exceed and Excel) and Mr Gruff.

J J the Jet Plane’s resume now reads 26-14-0-3, and he has amassed $2,351,053
in earnings. The seven-year-old gelding boasts eight career stakes victories in
his South African homeland — two apiece in the Golden Horse Sprint (SAf-G1) and
Mercury Sprint (SAf-G1), as well as the Computaform Sprint S. (SAf-G1), Senor
Santa H. (SAf-G2), Man o’ War Sprint S. (SAf-G3) and Graham Beck S. (SAf-G3).

Transferred to de Kock, for whom he won his first Al Quoz Sprint, he traveled
with the rest of the trainer’s international string to England, where he had
mixed results. After romping in the 2009 Leisure S. in his European debut, he
ran creditably when fourth in the Golden Jubilee S. (Eng-G1) and even better
when third in the July Cup (Eng-G1). His form began to decline thereafter,
culminating in a ninth in the Diadem S. (Eng-G2) when in the care of Richard
Hannon.

A tired J J the Jet Plane was repatriated and rejoined Houdalakis, who
co-owns the gelding in partnership with H.S.N. du Preez, C.F. Strydom and C.D.
Boyens. After a two-length score first up off the shelf in the May 29 Golden
Horse Sprint, he dominated the July 18 Mercury Sprint by 5 1/2 lengths. The bay
then made a splash on the international stage in the December 12 Hong Kong
Sprint (HK-G1), defeating Rocket Man (Viscount) and Sacred Kingdom (Encosta de
Lago) in a three-way finish. J J the Jet Plane raced twice at the Dubai
Carnival, flopping when trying the Tapeta in a February 17 handicap, but
rebounding in fine style back on turf in an about six-furlong handicap on March
10.

Bred by P. J. Devine, J J the Jet Plane was produced by the stakes-winning
Majestic Guest (Northern Guest), making him a full brother to the stakes-placed
Majestic Jet and a half-brother to the stakes-placed Guest Among Men (Among
Men).