“I was at the pick up and couldn’t see who had won. But I heard the roar from the crowd and knew she must have got up.”
It is two years and a week ago that Space Jet made he UK debut at Central Park and was beaten by a slightly useful (treble Cat One winner) called Warzone Tom.
Even though the 664m trip was way short of her optimum, Kent racegoers had seen enough. On her next visit to the track, Jet was made a 1-4f and won by an ever extending 10 lengths.
It would be fair to say that she has never looked back. Within nine weeks the daughter of Droopys Jet had won the St.Leger setting a new 710m track record at Perry Barr followed by the First Containers Marathon in possibly the best marathon final field seen in the last five years: Aayamza Royale, Antigua Lava, Savana Volcano, Burgess Elite and Droopys Jungle.
Other successes followed including the 2022 TV Trophy in a final (which was surely on par!): Blueberry Bullet, Bockos Brandy, Aayamza Royale, Droopys Senorita and Antigua Lava (lame).
When Space Jet goes to traps on Saturday night, her career record will show 30 races, for 22 wins and 28 races in the frame.
Her quality has never been in dispute, but her popularity has never been greater.
And it isn’t just because of performances like this – when her Dorando win challenged the Derby Final for the buzz it created for an excitable Towcester crowd.
So why has Space Jet become the industry’s darling?
It might be because having shared the limelightwith the likes of Aayamza Royale, Savana Volcano and Blueberry Bullet during a golden era for marathon racing, Jet now has the stage to herself?
(A great shame that Jet and Bellmore Sally’s paths have never crossed.)
The fact is, at any given time, there are very few hounds to whom crowds respond with such enthusiasm – and ‘last to first’ runners have an unfair edge.
Even though Matt has three runners in Saturday’s final, and even though his white jacketed runner may not even start as favourite, it is beyond question that Space Jet will be the star attraction.
As Racing Manager Rob Abrey put it this week: “Nomatter who is leading, everybody will be looking to the back of the field to see where Space Jet is.”
At almost four and half, it is practically impossible for the black superstar to be at her physical peak – nor is she over her optimal distance (she is the 955m record holder).
But that isn’t the point.
When crowds queued up to see Jimmy Anderson’s final Test Match at Old Trafford, they knew his ability was on the decline – but they just wanted to bask in the moment.
Ironically – Matt Dartnall might be the least partisan person in the stadium with an allegience split three ways.
He said: “For different reasons, I have great satisfaction about all three being there. In the case of Swiper, there is a bit of vindication to be honest. Back in March, when he was running in A3 at Oxford, I told the owners that I would be aiming him at the Regency, which must have seemed a bit ambitious at the time.
“But he pushed Jet all the way in the first round and did well to qualify in the semi finals. He is still green, and doesn’t know whether he wants to run rails or middle, but is improving with every run at Hove and must be open to improvement.
“This would be at the limit of what Lively Lauren would want in terms of distance. She ran very well in a trialstake, but she is a bitch who I like to switch around to keep her at her best so I took her to Swindon before the start of the competition and she was very impressive.
“She is the only other unbeaten finalist apart from Jet, and she has done that on going that hasn’t suited her. If the conditions are more favourable on Saturday, her chances are obvious.”
As for the star of the show, on possibly her farewell tour. . . .?
Matt said: “We always set out with the Regency in mind but there was no point leaving on her bed which we why we put her in the Dorando.
“We know how she ticks and she will be bang on for Saturday. I’m very happy with her.
“Given her age, we know there aren’t many more races to come. I would love to go back to Perry Barr for the St Leger with her, but she comes in season every seven months so we are in the lap of the gods.”
(Jet was last in season in March and the Perry Barr final is September 23. So fingers crossed!)
With nothing to prove, Matt, like the rest of us, can enjoy the occasion.
He said: “She is the people’s dog and whatever the result, she won’t let them down.”
Matt Dartnall shows off his Leger champ Space Jet joined by owner Kurn Rushen (right) his partner Maggie Terry and kennelhand Mark Sealey.
Perry Barr 30th September 2021
Photo: © Steve Nash
