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Jackson, joint favourite for Saturday’s R2.5 million J&B Met, will have to overcome a wide gate over the 2000m trip at Kenilworth after drawing gate 14.
Brett Crawford, trainer of Jackson, was philosophical about the wide draw and will look for a patient ride from jockey Glen Hatt.
“We will have to see what kind of speed there is in the race and go from there,” Crawford said.
“Glen may have to drop him out and run on at the end. Fortunately the summer course straight is long enough to do that.”
There was also no joy for L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Capetown Noir nor Jet Explorer from the in-form Justin Snaith.
They drew barriers 10 and 12 respectively while the Gavin van Zyl-trained No Worries ended up widest of all in barrier 18.
Capetown Noir’s rider Karl Neisius is rethinking his tactics.
“We will have to work on a new strategy. Perhaps sit in and wait for the straight.” Neisus said.
The Western Winter gelding has shown a distinct preference for the longer straight of the summer course and if there is no early pace Neisius indicated that Capetown Noir’s blistering turn of foot may prove decisive.
“I see no obvious pacemaker except for No Worries, but having drawn 8 he may also decide to drop out and wait,” Neisus said.
None of the favoured entries drew well although trainer Dennis Drier was happy enough that co-favourite Master Of My Fate has gate nine.
“I can’t really complain, it could have been a lot worse,” Drier said.
The low barriers went to the raiders, with pole position going to the Kom Naidoo-trained Royal Zulu Warrior.
Geoff Woodruff’s talented Yorker drew 2 followed by stable companion Master Sabina next in barrier 3.
To complete the run of good luck for the Woodruff yard Greg Cheyne drew barrier 5 for the diminutive Do You Remember.
“I couldn’t be happier,” said Cheyne of his mount. “She has settled in and if she reproduces her form from last year she must be in with a very good chance.”
Trainer Sean Tarry waited for Marsh Shirtliff to draw Whiteline Fever’s gate 8 when only that spot and gate 15 were still available.
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Final field for the R2.5-million J&B Met (Grade 1) to be run over 2000m at Kenilworth on Saturday February 1.
1 - 14 JACKSON (B Crawford) G Hatt 60.0 (Merit Rating 118)
2 - 10 CAPETOWN NOIR (D Kannemeyer) K Neisius 60.0 - (112)
3 - 6 WYLIE HALL (W H Marwing) S Khumalo 60.0 - (109)
4 - 2 YORKER (G V Woodruff) R Fradd 60.0 - (108)
5 - 9 MASTER OF MY FATE (D R Drier) S Cormack 58.0 - (114)
6 - 8 WHITELINE FEVER (S G Tarry) G Lerena 58.0 - (111)
7 - 15 HILL FIFTY FOUR (V H Marshall) A Marcus 58.0 - (110)
8 - 1 ROYAL ZULU WARRIOR (K Naidoo) K Zechner 58.0 - (110)
9 - 4 ICE MACHINE (D Kannemeyer) K Shea 58.0 - (109)
10 - 12 JET EXPLORER (S J Snaith) R Fourie 58.0 - (109)
11 - 7 KING OF PAIN (J Ramsden) B Fayd'Herbe 58.0 - (108)
12 - 16 LAKE ARTHUR (Y Govender) A Domeyer 58.0 - (107)
13 - 18 NO WORRIES (G H Van Zyl) P Strydom 58.0 - (107)
14 - 3 MASTER SABINA (G V Woodruff) R Danielson 58.0 - (104)
15 - 17 HOT TICKET (D Kannemeyer) G Behr 58.0 - (103)
16 - 13 PUNTA ARENAS (S Elley) G van Niekerk 58.0 - (101)
17 - 11 AWESOME POWER (G R Puller) M Yeni 58.0 - (97)
18 - 5 DO YOU REMEMBER (G V Woodruff) G Cheyne 57.5 - (108)
