SANSUI SUMMER CUP 2012 SET TO BE A CRACKER!

Michael Roberts (left) and Muzi Yeni (right) at the 2011 Sansui Summer Cup
(Photo : Peter Morey Photography)

SANSUI SUMMER CUP (Grade 1)
Turffontein, Turf, 2000m
1 December 2012

Mike Moon
The TimesSomething unusual occurred this week. I had several requests for hospitality tickets for the races at Turffontein tomorrow.

This hasn’t happened in ages and I’m not sure what it signifies. It might be that it’s the day of the R2million Sansui Summer Cup and the venerable event has recaptured some of the prestige and allure it once had as Johannesburg’s premier horse race and a social occasion of note. On the other hand, demand might be driven by the plethora of non-equine entertainment on offer on the course - a R100,000 lucky-draw giveaway, R30,000 in jewellery prizes for “best dressed” racegoers, the Sansui Sound Experience with popular artists rocking on into the night, and more. Perhaps people are just looking for a distraction from the all-pervasive Mangaung circus. Or perhaps the promise of winning wagers offers relief from dreary austerity. The cynical might suggest ticket requests have something to do with the R50 entry charge on Summer Cup day - after free entry to racecourses has become the norm.

But, optimist that I am, I prefer to think racing is regaining some of the popularity it lost to rival attractions like casinos, Lotto, shopping malls, cellphones and satellite television. Whatever is pulling folk to the Big T, it’s no bad thing in my book. The more people we get there the better; some of them might well enjoy the experience and become regulars.

For established racing fans, the 2012 Sansui Summer Cup is all about champion trainer Mike de Kock aiming to register his 10th victory in the race. The maestro has a rather good chance of doing this as he saddles seven of the 20 runners.

Having 35% of the contenders in a marquee feature is no mean achievement in itself, but his yard also having the first three in the betting is, well, astonishing. Mujaarib tops the boards at 22/10, with Silver Flyer at 4/1 and Vettel at 8/1.

The former is unbeaten in four starts and looks something special. But this is a bigger test than any the colt has faced and doubts have been raised about his capacity to stay the 2000m distance. A handy galloping weight of 53.5kg and a favourable No 8 draw might help him overcome stamina limitations and he’s a worthy favourite.

But something those newcomers to racing will find out tomorrow is that unpredictability is the name of this game. A determined bunch of trainers and jockeys are set on frustrating the De Kock bid for glory.

Among them is pint-sized rider Muzi Yeni, who partners Astro News (20/1) from the Brian Wiid yard. What a great news story it’ll be if the lad from Umlazi becomes the first black rider to win one of the country’s “majors”. It’ll also be great news for my bank balance. Go Muzi.

SELECTION: Sansui Summer Cup (Race 7): 13 Astro News, 18 Mujaarib, 3 Smanjemanje, 6 Silver Flyer

Extract from The Times

MASTER PLAN : CHAMPIONS CUP 2012

Master Plan wins the Champions Cup (Gr1)
(Photo : Gold Circle - Footage : Tellytrack)

CHAMPIONS CUP (Grade 1)
Greyville, Turf, 1800m
28 July 2012

FINAL RESULTS

#	LBH	Horse	Kg	MR	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	0.00	MASTER PLAN	56.5	103	8	M Yeni	Greg Ennion
2	0.05	BLACK WING	57.5	106	5	K Teetan	Brett Crawford
3	1.55	SOLO TRAVELLER	59.0	106	2	A Delpech	Mike de Kock
4	2.80	TALES OF BRAVERY	59.0	112	10	M Byleveld	Vaughan Marshall
5	4.05	CASTLETHORPE (AUS)	57.5	112	4	R Danielson	Mike Bass
6	4.55	CHESALON	59.0	110	3	B Fayd’Herbe	Mike Bass
7	6.05	WHITELINE FEVER	56.0	103	7	A Marcus	Sean Tarry
8	6.80	PIERRE JOURDAN	60.0	112	9	R Fradd	Gary Alexander
9	11.30	GOLD ONYX (NZ)	58.0	106	6	P Strydom	Sean Tarry
10	14.05	BUY AND SELL	57.5	96	1	B Lerena	SEan Tarry

SAFWAN AND GOLDEN CHARIOT SHARE BETTING WORLD 1900

Safwan and Golden Chariot dead-heat in the Betting World 1900 (Gr2)
(Photo : Gold Circle)

BETTING WORLD 1900 (Grade 2)
Greyville, Turf, 1900m
20 May 2011

David Thiselton
Gold CircleMike de Kock and Sean Tarry shared the Grade 2 Betting World 1900 in a thriller this past Friday night at Greyville as Safwan, ridden by Anthony Delpech, swooped late to catch the Muzi Yeni-ridden Golden Chariot on the line.

Last year de Kock won this race with Bold Silvano, who went on to win the Vodacom Durban July. He implied after Friday night’s race that this year’s relatively weaker field would not produce the Vodacom winner, but hoped that the two dead-heaters had done enough to secure their places.

Tarry completed a fine training feat as Golden Chariot was off for a year after straining a ligament. In his comeback run on May 3 in the Drill Hall Stakes the six-year-old Caesour gelding, who is owned by Chris van Niekerk and was bred by Northwood Stud, caught the eye running on late. Tarry said after Friday night’s race: “He has been working so well that I would have been shocked if he hadn’t won, but I’m happy to share.” Golden Chariot, despite clearly loving Durban and Greyville in particular, still remains a July outsider, although he did shorten from 330-1 into 66-1. Safwan, an Australian-bred Encosta De Lago gelding owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, has remained at his opening odds of 66-1. Both Safwan and Golden Chariot carried low weights, 53,5kg and 53kg respectively, so on paper the best race was actually run by the Dean Kannemeyer-trained five-year-old gelding In Writing, who carried 55.5kg and was just 0,5 lengths back at the line. In Writing duly shorted in the July betting from 66-1 into 50-1.

Golden Chariot led from the off and Delpech later praised Yeni for a fine front-running ride. However, Yeni, wary of being swamped by the closers, felt in retrospect that he might have done too much in the straight too soon. 

This self-criticism is another sign of the stalwart’s ever increasing confidence. Delpech was also at his best, coming from some way back and producing Safwan, a big galloping type, with his usual resolute before extracting a final lunge. In Writing came from a handy position and his finish became more telling the further they went, so although he might not win the July, the Gold Cup sprung to mind as a race he might love.

The favourite, the Mike Bass-trained Hammie’s Boy, sat in second place one wide from a high draw and after moving up well found no extra, leaving it to the de Kock-trained Fisani and the Weiho Marwing-trained July entry Mahogany to claim fourth and fifth places respectively.

Also on Friday night’s card, the July contenders the Glen Kotzen-trained M’Lords Throat and the Tarry-trained Gold Onyx ran good Daily News 2000 trials by finishing first and second in an Allowance Plate over 1900m. The former shortened into 33-1 in the July betting, while Gold Onyx shortened into 100-1.

BETTING WORLD 1900
Final Results

#	LBH	Horse	Kg	MR	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	0.00	GOLDEN CHARIOT	53.0		4	Muzi Yeni	Sean Tarry
1	0.00	SAFWAN (AUS)	53.5		7	Anthony Delpech	Mike de Kock
3	0.50	IN WRITING (ARG)	55.5		5	Karl Neisius	Dean Kannemeyer
4	2.50	FISANI	56.0		3	Gavin Lerena	Mike de Kock
5	2.55	MAHOGANY	52.0		6	Sean Veale	Weiho Marwing
6	2.80	HAMMIE’S BOY	53.5		9	Aldo Domeyer	Mike Bass
7	3.05	WE THREE	54.5		2	Raymond Danielson	Justin Snaith
8	3.10	HAWK’S EYE (GB)	53.5		1	Glen Hatt	Joey Ramsden
9	3.35	DANCE AT DAYLIGHT	52.0		11	Jarred Samuel	Dennis Drier
10	6.60	TROPICAL EMPIRE (AUS)	60.0		10	Stuart Randolph	Duncan Howells
11	6.65	CASK	54.0		8	Corne Orffer	Stephen Page
12	18.90	ALDERRY	56.0		12	Kevin Shea	Mike de Kock

Extract from Gold Circle

FANCY FOOTWORK WINS MAIDEN FOR NIVESH SIRPUTH

Click above to watch Fancy Footwork winning her maiden
(Image : Gold Circle - Footage : Tellytrack)

FANCY FOOTWORK
2010 SUMMERHILL READY TO RUN GRADUATE

Mpumalanga-based engineer Nivesh Sirputh enjoyed the rare pleasure of leading in his first winner when 9-20 favourite Fancy Footwork ran out a 3.25-length victress of a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1600m at Clairwood on Sunday, capably handled by Muzi Yeni.

Nivesh owns Fancy Footwork  in partnership with Moneyweb journalist Hilton Tarrant (a first for him too), the “Italian Boertjie” Giancarlo Filomeno, Brett Parker and John Finlayson.

The filly by Solskjaer from Radiant Lass, by Northern Guest, was sent to Mike de Kock’s stables as a replacement for the partnership’s first purchase, Desire, who as Mike succinctly put it, “had no desire to run!”

Mike added: “This was a wonderful gesture by Mick Goss of Summerhill Stud. The guys put their money down, suffered a quick disappointment but have now been rewarded for their patience. More breeders should follow Mick’s example. If you’re good to your clients, they will come back again with  more support.”

Fancy Footwork is an improving type by a stallion who is making a big impression with his second crop and Mike said: “She’s improving and there was a lot to like about the way she beat the draw and kicked on for an easy win. She didn’t beat much, but looks like she has a few more wins coming.”

Fancy Footwork was secured for the partnership by Charl Pretorius’ Freeracer Bloodstock.

FANCY FOOTWORK (Solskjaer (IRE) - Radiant Lass by Northern Guest (USA))
DOB 2008-10-25
2 Year Old Bay Filly

Owners : Messrs Nivesh Sirputh, G Filomeno, J E Finlayson, B K Parker and H M Tarrant
Trainer : Mike de Kock
Jockey : Muzi Yeni
Breeder : Summerhill Stud
Win Time : 99.38
Career Record : 1 Win, 1 Place, 2 Starts
Career Earnings : R52,000

Fancy Footwork is a graduate from the Summerhill draft of the 2010 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale.

PLAY AN ALL TO COME BET MAIDEN JUVENILE PLATE
Clairwood, Turf, 1600m
15 May 2011

#	LBH	Horse	Kg	MR	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	0.00	FANCY FOOTWORK	58.0	0	9	M Yeni	Mike de Kock
2	3.25	NINTH SYMPHONY	58.0	0	3	A Forbes	Dennis Drier
3	3.30	TASTE OF HONEY	58.0	0	1	K Neisius	Sean Tarry
4	4.30	MISS HONEY COMB	58.0	0	5	I Sturgeon	Bart Rice
5	5.30	TACALOOCHEE	58.0	0	2	C Orffer	Michael Miller
6	5.80	DRUM BEATER	58.0	0	6	A Domeyer	Kumaran Naidoo
7	5.90	RUNNING RIVER	58.0	0	8	* J P van der Merwe	Paul Lafferty
8	7.15	FIRST BREAK	58.0	0	7	D Mansour	Duncan Howells
9	13.40	DO OR DYE	58.0	0	4	K Shea	Paul Lafferty
10	23.90	QUEEN OF DRACONIA	58.0	0	10	K Zechner	Kumaran Naidoo
		Late Scratchings
11	0.00	BALLADRY	58.0	0	2	A Marcus	Paul Lafferty
12	0.00	ORANGE SUNRISE	58.0	0	11		Yadav Singh
13	0.00	RED BOOK	58.0	0	5	R Danielson	Gavin van Zyl

Extract from Mike de Kock Racing

For more information please visit :
www.summerhill.co.za

THE SANSUI SUMMER CUP IS HOTTING UP

Pierre Jourdan and Thandolwami contenders at the Sansui Summer Cup
(Photo : JC Photographics)

De Kock Hot, Hot, Hot

JACK MILNER : “It’s not whether you win or lose - but whether I win or lose”

Those words of Scottish golfer Sandy Lyle might well be uttered by trainer Mike de Kock ahead of tomorrow’s R2-million Sansui Summer Cup over 2000m on the Turffontein standside track.

The current champion trainer has already won this race eight times and with six of the 18 runners tomorrow, it would be a brave man to bet against him scoring win No 9. Gary Alexander, who trains the only non-De Kock runner quoted in singles figures - Pierre Jourdan - put it perfectly when he said yesterday: “Mike has a big hold in this race and it will be tough to beat him.

De Kock saddles 5-2 favourite Perana, 5-1 second favourite Mother Russia, Alderry at 8-1, Zirconeum (16-1), Flirtation (20-1) and Rudra (50-1). “They are all going into the race with good form, he said. “I would have liked to have given Perana, Mother Russia and Flirtation another run but we have a long season ahead. Their training at home has been excellent.

When asked about Perana being a three-year-old when horses that age do not have a good record in the race, his response was : “So what? People said the same thing to me when I put Horse Chestnut into the Met - and he won.

As another famous golfer - Arnold Palmer - once said, “the road to success is always under construction’’, and that is a rule by which De Kock has lived his life.

Speaking about Perana and his gallant win in the Grade 2 Victory Moon Stakes at Turffontein where he ducked out sharply and still came back to win, De Kock said: “He’s a young and immature horse with a lot to do, but he does have Group 1 ability.

“Even though I would have preferred to have another run, he’s had a great preparation. He’s done everything right in training. I was impressed by the way he won his last race, especially the courage he showed in winning.

So win No 9 is likely to be spearheaded by a three-year-old who has raced just four times. But with just 52kg to carry, including Anthony Delpech - who is having an unbelievable year in big races - De Kock could well make history.

But if Perana does show his inexperience, a number of his stablemates will be waiting to pounce. Alderry finally demonstrated her true ability with an emphatic victory in the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile earlier this month. She was rushed to the front early in the straight that time and was given a chance.

Muzi Yeni gets the ride and must fancy his chances on the big bay Al Mufti filly. “Muzi came up on Tuesday to gallop the filly without my even asking him, said De Kock. “I was very impressed with his dedication. Alderry is the perfect filly in every respect and she’s as well as ever. Her preparation has gone very well.

Then there is Mother Russia. This five-year-old mare has done little wrong in her career. She has raced 24 times for 12 wins and outside of Pocket Power, is probably the most prolific Grade 1 performer in the country. She has run in 11 Grade 1 races, won three, placed second four times and third two occasions. In her lone unplaced run she was just 1.85 lengths off the winner and that was against Lady Windermere in the Garden Province Stakes at Greyville.

The only blot on her copybook was her dreadful last place in the Gold Challenge at Clairwood. After that De Kock gave her a long rest and she came back in the Victory Moon where she was beaten 0.50 lengths by Perana.

“She went into the Victory Moon with an iffy coat, not looking that great, said De Kock. “She’s come on with the run, took it well and her coat is perfect. The second run after a layoff never normally worries me but every now and again they come up and bite you.

Other than his six runners, De Kock also has a share in Joey Ramsden’s runner, Hawk’s Eye, winner of the Grade 3 Algoa Cup. “Hawk’s Eye is as honest as they come. Joey should, be applauded for bringing the horse to Johannesburg. It amazes me at how many trainers around the country ignore this race. If you can afford to turn up your nose up at a R2-million race you have no right to complain about stakes cuts. We put our horses on floats and go all over the country. The Summer Cup should be better supported, said De Kock.

Deciding on who could shut out De Kock is difficult, but perhaps Pierre Jourdan has it in him. He went close to winning the Triple Crown last season and he does love the course. However, he has top weight for the race.

“He is a top horse and he’s done so well for us. But at the weights he might find it difficult, said Alexander.