… although Nick Jonsson Hopes Jet Dark Can Race Overseas Before Retiring
The announcement of Equus Horse Of The Year will see many around the country listening with bated breath – will it be Jet Dark or Captain’s Ransom?
The intriguing question was raised recently whether Jet Dark’s first covering schedule at stud will include Captain’s Ransom?!
However, Jet Dark is not a certainty to be retired at the end of this season as owner Nick Jonsson is hoping a successful pending European audit on AHS control measures in SA will see horses being able to travel more easily for overseas races.
He said in an interview with Breeding To Win over the weekend that he hoped Jet Dark could take in a couple of overseas races.
Jonsson has been around horses most of his life, so is able to make informed assessments about them.
He believed his champion horse would never have been as successful without the input of his groom Rasta Mwelase.
He said Jet Dark had a playful nature and would not have been at home with a groom who showed any sign of being intimidated by him.
Rasta has formed a strong bond with Jet Dark and has an understanding of the horse’s needs and the patience to let him fulfill them.
For example if the strapping colt wants to rear up on his hind legs to show his masculinity, Rasta allows him to do so.
Jet Dark is “hard work” and Rasta has done a sterling job in keeping him happy, while at the same time not being at all intimidated by him.
Jet Dark is the same age as Captain’s Ransom and from the same yard.
Bloodstock agent John Freeman is an important member of the Justin Snaith yard’s sales team, so would likely have played a part in picking both horses.
Freeman is also a stallion manager and might well be managing Jet Dark one day.
First season sires are usually given good mares to give them a good start and what better way for Jet Dark to start than with his stablemate and Horse Of The Year rival Captain’s Ransom.
The decision will rest chiefly with Captain’s Ransom’s owners Suzette and Basie Viljoen.
The mating would produce some interesting in-breeding.
Roberto is on the top line of both Captain Ransom’s sire Captain Al and her dam Cinnas Ransom.
Roberto’s full-sister Glorious Spring is the dam of Rollins, the damsire of Jet Master, who is damsire of Jet Dark.
Jet Dark has been stamped by his sire Trippi, but Jonsson mentioned in the Breeding To Win interview how he sees a lot of Jet Master in the classy entire too.
Picture: Jet Dark (Far side), a powerful son of Trippi, who has a lot of damsire Jet Master in him.
