Pocket Power relinquished his stranglehold on the J&B Met at a packed Kenilworth yesterday, but it was fitting that it was his younger full sister, River Jetez, who succeeded him on the throne. Indeed it was left to the fairer sex to fight out the finish as River Jetez outgunned the Mike de Kock-trained Mother Russia to the line with tote favourite and crowd hero Pocket Power filling third, just ahead of stable companion Fort Vogue. It was a personal triumph for trainer Mike Bass, nicknamed "Gandolph" by his legion of followers after the legendary wizard in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as he saddled three of the first four past the post and garnered his fourth successive Met victory.

River Jetez is co-owned by Cedric and Barbara Amm and Marsh Shirtliff, also a major shareholder in Pocket Power and fourth-placed Fort Vogue. River Jetez is likely to stay on track for the Champions Season in KZN this winter before being retired to stud.

Bass offered no excuses for the beaten Pocket Power but did reveal in a post race press conference that the champion had been quite badly cut into behind and had to receive veterinary treatment after the race.

Bass was also magnanimous in his praise for River Jetez and Mother Russia saying that the two fillies had both put up exceptional performances and said that on the given day they were the best horses in the race.

Chairman of the Gold Circle Western Cape board, Vidrik Thurling said he had been exceptionally happy with the day's tote turnovers. Takings on the main race alone had been up R158 000 although Gold Circle’s total turnover was down 2 %. The National tote was up by R49 000 less than 0,5 % however seen in the context of the trying economic times, the figures were more than satisfying, said Thurling.

Official crowd figures were not immediately available but it was estimated to be in the region of 35 000, up on last year's 32 000.

Earlier in the day, the Investec Cape Derby went the way of the unbeaten gelding Bravura for trainer Joey Ramsden and jockey Anton Marcus for owners Markus and Ingrid Jooste. The race proved to be a thrilling duel between Bravura and race favourite Noordhoek Flyer with the latter not quite able to match strides with the winner when it mattered.

The Klawervlei Majorca Stakes proved to be another thrilling finish with the judges unable to separate De Kock-trained Gluwein and the Bass-trained Love Is In The Air, declaring a dead-heat. There were a few anxious moments for the connections of Love Is In The Air after the jockey aboard Gluwein, Anthony Delpech, objected on the grounds of interference at the 600m mark but this was later over-ruled by the stipendiary stewards.