JETS HAS TAKEN HIS FINAL FLIGHT
Ian Fortune
When Sean Bourke and Paul Horig named Mustang Jet, they must have had a real sense that he could potentially turn into one of the fastest greyhounds in training with this “Jet” taking of so many times through his relatively short but mighty impressive career.
Sadly, the brilliant tracker has run his final race after persistent problems with a wrist. Dolores Ruth did all she could to get the star back on track but it got to a point where he would never be able to produce his best on a regular basis and the correct decision has been made to retire him to stud.
Through his racing career, he displayed the sort of early speed and back straight dash that owners, trainers and breeders can only dream of. He began his career at the Juvenile Classic in Tralee and displayed what would become his trademark early speed on debut.
Picked up on the line by Glengar Scholar in 28.53, he hinted at what was to come. A week later, he opened his account, again showing massive early speed to dominate in 28.51. To highlight the strength of the run, Coolavanny Hoffa clocked 28.41 on the same night.
Sadly, a missed start was to see him make his exit at the semi-final stages but he had laid down a marker. It was after Tralee that he joined Dolores Ruth and she was to get the very best from him in their subsequent time together.
IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO SHELBOURNE
In his first start for Dolores, he made a successful Shelbourne Park debut, winning in 28.43 before producing a couple more superb runs at HQ before taking in the Produce Stakes.
Despite a series of tough draws, he made the semis only to make his exit.
BY now, his talent was there for all to see and his career would soon move to the next level. A return to Shelbourne Park saw him put up one of the best performances of his career. Showing his many incredible attributes, the flying brindle flew around the famous Ringsend circuit in 28.03.
It was a stunning display, made even more stunning by a 15.76 third bend sectional. To this day it remains one of the fastest sectionals ever posted. He followed that run up a week later, again going fast as he came home clear in 28.23.
A STEP UP IN TRIP
It was now time to step up to 550yds for a crack at the Derby.
After a couple of impressive prep runs, he was amongst the favourites for Derby glory and duly won his opening round assignment in a fast 29.43, clocking 17.09 to the third turn.
He held the flying finish of subsequent Derby third Crafty Kokoro in the second round, posting 29.72 but made his exit after finding traffic on the turn in the third round.
He quickly put that disappointment behind him, switching to the Leger where he was simply superb through the classic. He won each of his first three rounds and safely negotiated his way through the semi-finals to reach a first classic decider.
And so, to one of the most remarkable classic finales in recent times. Mustang Jet couldn’t have done anything more right. Showing electric early speed, he built a clear advantage to halfway only to run into a rampant Bobsleigh Dream. In an incredible finish, Bobsleigh Dream picked up Mustang Jet in the final yards to win by three parts of a length.
FESTIVAL JOY
The runner-up had done nothing wrong but it simply wasn’t meant to be.
He didn’t end the year without some glory, however. He was duly accepted for the Winter Racing Festival Open 550 and this time he exacted his revenge on Bobsleigh Dream.
Again, showing exceptional early speed, he raced clear of a top-class field that included beaten Derby favourite Callaway Pro Am, Derby runner-up Ballymac Finn, English Derby champion Romeo Magico and the UK’s best Coolavanny Shado. Bobsleigh Dream emerged from the pack to offer most resistance but Mustang Jet was imperious, winning by three and a half lengths.
NOT MEANT TO BE IN 2023
Given his age, profile and rapid rate of progression, it was expected that Mustang Jet would be amongst the very best in training in 2023 but it wasn’t meant to be.
Injury had set in and the niggles just kept persisting.
Attempts were made to get him back on track but it wasn’t meant to be. He now faces a future as a sire and his pedigree will certainly prove appealing to breeders. His sire Droopys Jet needs no introduction, while his dam line is top class. His dam Mustang Kay Cee is daughter of the number one sire in the US, Kc And All, while she herself had tremendous early speed and was top class in the UK.
We wish Mustang Jet the longest and healthiest retirement and look forward to seeing his progeny hitting the track in the future. If they are anything like their sire, they’ll be easy to spot – they will be the ones out front!