Pocket Power (SAF) secured his status as one of South African racing's immortals by winning the J & B Met for the third consecutive year at Kenilworth this afternoon, seeing off the attentions  of Dancer's Daughter (GB) as River Jetez (SAF) and Kapil (SAF) filled the minor placings in the 2000m showpiece. The drama was played out in front of 35 000 spectators who enjoyed a sunny afternoon of top class racing, cooled by a stiff southerly breeze.

Pocket Power broke very well and surprised everyone by racing in third early on before eventually tucking in just off the early pace which was set by outsider Quick Millions who went about four lengths clear. Ivory Trail settled in second ahead of African Appeal and Buy And Sell. Kevin Shea manoeuvred Dancer's Daughter from her wide draw to settle on the fence about six lengths off the speed with Pocket Power keeping close tabs on her. Of the other protagonists, Kapil and River Jetez were the last two turn for home.

Dancer's Daughter moved in soon after entering the straight and moved into the lead past the 400m mark but Bernard Fayd'Herbe had been watching her like a hawk and he soon sent Pocket Power after her. The favourite made up the required length or two with a minimum of fuss and given the way he went past her, looked set to run away with it. Dancer's Daughter refused to give up the fight, though, and she stuck to her task all the way to the line, getting within a neck of the winner as River Jetez flashed up late for an excellent third placing.

"I can't describe the feeling; there's no words for it at the moment," said a breathless jockey Bernard Fayd'herbe. "I was a little bit handy but he was going really well. I saw Dancers Daughter in front of me and I thought, 'She's definitely the horse I have to beat.' I tracked her for quite a while and then I made my move. {Pocket Power] really accelerated, a lot quicker than usually. Going through the150m mark, he started to loaf with me; I had to give him a few smacks to keep him going. I was getting a little  worried as I knew the filly was going to come back at me, but he started to flick his ear and I realised he still had running in him." Asked if he had felt the pressure, especially with history in the offing, he said, "To be honest, I wasn't under that much pressure as I knew I was on the best horse in the race."

Trainer Mike Bass has been the mastermind behind Pocket Power's exceptional career and his feat in keeping the champion going season after season, despite not being the soundest of horses, will go down as one of the great training achievements in racing history, not just locally but anywhere in the world. Typically, the modest conditioner preferred to give credit to the team behind him and he was more effusive than usual when asked to describe his stable star.

"Even when he won three winter season races [the Cape's winter Triple Crown for 3-year-olds] one after the other, we never though he was going to be this good; we just allowed him to come along. This chap's a real champion. They might say that the conditions of the race suit him, but when good horse like this run, it doesn't matter what the weights are; these type of races, you need horses like this to win them like this. Internationally, he can still compete, he's a 6-year-old now but I think he'll be very competitive. He must be as good as some of the best of the world, if not as good as them. He's certainly not far off the best in the world on grass."

While there was huge hype around Pocket Power becoming the first horse to win this prestigious race three times - and rightly so -  it's worth repeating that the son of Jet Master did not need to prove anything coming into the race as his previous achievements had already set the seal on his greatness. Today's performance merely provided the cherry on the top and it's going to be a tall order for any horse to stop him winning the Horse Of The Year title for a third consecutive season. Bass indicated that an overseas campaign may be on the cards next season and while the obvious concern is that he will be seven at that stage, there is no doubt that he will do South Africa proud if he can maintain his form.

Dancer's Daughter had every chance in second and she was by no means disgraced. Her best chance of upsetting Pocket Power, though, was to try and run him down from off the pace as she had done in their Vodacom Durban July deadheat. Having got to the front as early as she did today, she was always going to be a sitting duck for a horse with his acceleration. To her credit, she never stopped trying but she simply had to give way to an outstanding rival.

River Jetez ran the race of her life in third. The draw was always going to be her problem and Glen Hatt had no choice but to drop her out. She made up a huge amount of ground in third and is looking better than ever this season. She can be relied on to continue to give a good account of herself in the country's top middle distance events.

Kapil gave his supporters a fair run for their money as he ran on late for fourth. It was always doubtful that he would get the trip and he was switched off at the rear with River Jetez. As usual, he did his best work late and if he holds this level of form, he can yet pick up a feature race of his own in the upcoming months

Tote takings on the J&B Met itself was 4% up on last year but total takings for the day were down by 3% to just under R21 million.

Chairman of the Gold Circle Western Cape Racing Board, Ashraf Mohamed, said that racing was not “inoculated” against the current economic climate and under the circumstances Gold Circle was very happy with the situation.

The race was also televised and bet on in France where one million Euros were bet on the race.

Graeme Hawkins, Gold Circle Racing Executive, said that this was a platform to launch a world wide initiative.

Pocket Power took his stake earnings to a massive R7,7 million and will now be rested before heading for the KZN Champions season this winter.

Pocket Power (SAF) is a 6-year-old gelding by Jet Master (SAF) out of Stormsvlei (SAF) by Prince Florimund (SAF). He is owned by Mr N M Shirtliff, Mr and Mrs A D Webber and was bred by Zandvliet Stud.

Winning trainer: Mike Bass