RAIHANA, MR BROCK AND LUCKY FIND VICTORIES FOR TEAM MDK

Raihana, Mr Brock and Mike de Kock
(Image : Gold Circle/Tab Online/Orange)

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL RACING CARNIVAL
25 FEBRUARY 2010

The Mike de Kock win tally continues to rise in Dubai as Raihana, Mr Brock and Lucky Find all secured victories in their respective races at Meydan last night.

Peter Ward reports on Mike de Kock Racing that the US$250,000 UAE Oaks (Listed) is the latest Classic to be added to the South African trainer’s roll of honour after the smooth success of Raihana in the 1900m Tapeta Classic. Piloted by Christophe Soumillon, Raihana won on her local debut before finishing fourth in the UAE 1000 Guineas. She always looked likely to prevail on this occasion and reverse form with Godolphin’s Siyaadah, who was third.

Mike de Kock said following the race : “She is a lovely filly and one we have always thought was a Classic prospect. The Guineas just did not work out for her but Christophe has given her a great ride and we will bring her back for the UAE Derby on World Cup night.” 

Raihana’s win provided her owner, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, with a memorable Guineas-Oaks double, made even more special in that he bred both Musir (Redoute’s Choice) and Raihana (Elusive Quality). “This was an extraordinary achievement by Sheikh Mohammed, who predicted from the start that both would be good horses,” said Mike de Kock.

Kevin Shea had won the previous race, the $US175,000 Meydan Horizons Handicap over 2000m on tapeta, on the very impressive South African-bred Mr Brock who recorded his second Dubai International Racing Carnival win of 2010 and may just have done enough to get himself an invite for Dubai World Cup night. Shea said : “He is a great horse who has thrived on this new surface. He never runs a bad race and can hopefully keep improving.”

Mr Brock is owned by Mauritian-based Serge Seenyen.

Zirconeum then ran a great race to finish third in the $US200,000 Balanchine Stakes (Group 3) over 1800m on turf. Burdened with a Group 1 penalty, Zirconeum was conceding weight to the two who beat her, having led briefly two furlongs out. Shea was in the saddle and said: “She has run well and the slow early pace was not ideal. She is a quality filly and will bounce back.”

Kevin Shea and Mike de Kock enjoyed the perfect end to their evening when another South African-bred, Lucky Find, won the concluding mile handicap, the US$120,000 Imax Cup. Winner of Al Maktoum Challenge Round Two in 2008, Lucky Find has been a great servant to the yard and Shea said: “He deserved that after a great run on turf last time.

BLUE HENS : NO PRICE ON THEIR HEADS

Arabian Mist - Defy Merchants Gr2
(Photos : JC Photographics)

KZN BREEDERS AWARDS 2009

At the KZN Breeders Awards on Friday evening, we were reminded not only of the good health of breeding in this region, but of the bottomless value of an outstanding producer. To think that the dam of two of the evening’s champions, Garden Verse (responsible for Champion International Performer, Imbongi, as well the Champion Older Filly or Mare, Spring Garland,) didn’t make the final cut for Broodmare of the Year, speaks volumes for the depth among female producers in the province. They were no fewer than three dams of multiple Grade One winners nominated for the title, with Sweet Sheila emerging victorious on the back of her daughter, Zirconeum’s spectacular year at the races. Well done to ex-Summerhill manager, Karin Render, and husband Warwick.

Another to march off into the history books this weekend, was the Summerhill matron, Valley Mist, who had already found herself in the mix for the title on two previous occasions through the exploits of her exceptional son, Nhlavini, the only horse in South African history to have lined up on six separate occasions as a finalist for the Equus National Awards of Horseracing. On Saturday, his kid brother, Arabian Mist, making his debut in Graded Stakes company in the Defy Merchants (Gr.2), skated home by two and a half lengths from Cyber Case, who was another three lengths ahead of the third in what was a representative field of the Highveld’s best sprinters.

Now a seven time winner, Arabian Mist exemplifies the accruals of a patient handling, of which you are always assured in the Gary Alexander yard. A late maturing type, this fellow was given the benefit of an early education at Summerhill, and only went into training at the back end of his two year old year. An animal of obvious potential, he took time to find his feet, and he was given the time to do so, as we’ve come to expect from the coolest customer in the game.

On Saturday, he rewarded his connections for their patience, and he put up his hand for the biggest sprint prizes in the country later in the year. Another one for Muhtafal, by the way, whom we’ve always said would be our general, if we were going to war. Well done to Bruce and Jo Gardner, our fellow breeders who’ve been onboard since the gates opened,and to the usual “Alexander” suspects, Greg Sadie, Myron Berzack, Chris Gerber and Leon van Rooyen.

Mike de Kock predicts Top 6 Vodacom July Battle

Mike de Kock
(Photo : Tab Online/Phumelela/Vodacom Durban July)

“Zirconeum, Bouquet-Garni and Forest Path - The MDK Attack”

The 2009 renewal of the Vodacom Durban July “will be fought out by the top six horses in the betting and the rest will live hoping and probably die hoping” so believes trainer Mike de Kock who has three three-year-olds in the race, and none of them are in the top six in the betting.

David Thiselton writes that Mike de Kock reports all three of his runners to be very well but lamented his bad luck with the draws.

Zirconeum, a Jallad filly, is drawn 19 and will be ridden by Anthony Delpech.

Bouquet-Garni, a Strike Smartly gelding out of a Fort Wood mare, is drawn 14 and will be ridden by MJ Byleveld.

Forest Path, a Fort Wood gelding, is drawn 20 and will be ridden by Warren Kennedy.

Interestingly, all three of Mike de Kock’s charges are Grade 1 winners.

There are only six other Grade 1 winners in the field of 20, Pocket Power, Our Giant, Buy And Sell, Smart Banker, Big City Life and Outcome.

His charges’ Grade 1 status would normally be enough for them to be in with a good chance but all three, even without their draws, have question marks over their heads and are consequently 40-1, 40-1 and 50-1 in the betting respectively.

Mike de Kock rated Zirconeum as probably his best chance.

The question marks about her are that she is firstly 1kg under sufferance on merit rated terms and secondly has a stamina doubt over her head.

She quickened very well in the Champions Challenge but was run out of the placings late on to finish fifth, two lengths behind Smart Banker. The run suggested she hadn’t stayed the tough Turffontein 2000m.

She meets Smart Banker on 4kg worse terms in the July, although the weight for age scale has risen 2kg for three-year-olds since then, effectively making her only 2kg worse off.

She recently won the Grade 1 Woolavington at Greyville easily over just 200m shorter than the July, but that was against her own age and sex.

Kevin Shea was asked immediately after the race whether she would stay the July trip and replied, “You can never tell but being trained by Mike de Kock there is a good chance she will.”

The last filly to win the July was the world class Mike de Kock-trained three-year-old, Ipi Tombe. She was a class above Zirconeum and didn’t have as difficult a draw to contend with. She did face a probable stronger overall field though.

Bouquet-Garni won this season’s Grade 1 SA Derby over 2400m.

Mike de Kock felt there would have to be a fast pace for him to feature. He is a big galloping type and might not have the immediate turn of foot that is an advantage at Greyville.

Forest Path won a Grade 1 over 1400m as a juvenile at Greyville and won the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein this year.

However, the Johannesburg three-year-old form is much maligned this season and this horse is also a highly strung type who often wastes energy with his pre-race antics.

Mike de Kock felt that the top three-year-old in the country, the Glen Kotzen-trained Big City Life, had a chance on Saturday.

“He proved himself by finishing just two lengths behind Pocket Power at weight for age terms and with the weight turnaround since he must have a chance.”

He said that all four of his runners in the Grade 1 Golden Horseshoe for two-year-olds over 1400m, Solid Choice, Musir, Mr. Crazy Boy and Storm Vanadiso were very talented.

If he had to side with one it would be Musir.

“He ran off the course last time and might otherwise have beaten Solid Choice.”

However, he warned that he was not discounting Solid Choice.

“If he can overcome his wide draw and get a good position he will be a big runner too.”

He felt that 1400m might still be a touch sharp for Mr. Crazy Boy.

Mike de Kock lamented the wide draw for Gilded Minaret in the Grade 1 Garden Province but said she was very well.

“Equal Image always runs well on July day,” he added before saying that the day’s racing was very competitive and the yard was hoping for good runs with all their charges.

Vodacom Durban July Gallops

Vodacom Durban July
“4 July 2009”

A festive Vodacom Durban July Gallops staged yesterday morning at Durban’s Greyville Racecourse brought out great weather, hot coffee and sticky buns but few sureties or revelations for the big race day.

Top turf writer David Thiselton reports that every one of the 16 challengers that galloped strode out nicely and, unlike last year, none of them could be eliminated from calculations on the basis of a poor workout.

David’s analysis is as follows :

The three visually most impressive gallops were arguably Pocket Power, Our Giant and Outcome.

Pocket Power’s superiority to the rest of the field was evident as he powered down the straight, hard on the bit, head bowed and striding out well under big race jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe. Pocket Power put in a very similar gallop to last year, finishing just a half-a-length or so behind his companion, which on this occasion was Nevvay.

Our Giant quickened well at the top of the straight and strode out very well with his head down as did the course specialist Outcome.

Other eye-catching gallops were put up by Smart Banker, River Jetez and Thandolwami.

Smart Banker quickened clear of his companion impressively and stretched out well all the way to the line.

River Jetez worked with Consensual, who had thrashed her on the cinders at Milnerton in her final serious gallop before the J&B Met. However, on this occasion River Jetez, who lead the pair into the straight, pulled further and further away from Consensual down the straight in effortless fashion.

Thandolwami wasn’t asked to do much but looked comfortable as he stretched out down the straight. He worked in blinkers but Craig Eudey later decided, after consulting with jockey Raymond Danielson, that the blinkers would not be used in the big race. Raymond Danielson reported that Thandolwami had switched off very well in the running, but the blinkers had made him a touch keen before the workout had begun.

Tropical Empire also impressed and looked to be enjoying himself, while London Guest strode out well and did just enough, as is his tendency, to keep his companion at bay.

The least appealing of the gallops was that of Meteor Shower, who was left in his companion, Diamond Quest’s, wake. He clearly does not have natural speed, but will stay every inch of the 2200m.

Likeithot did not stride out quite as well as his stable companions, but did little wrong, while Cape Town and Buy And Sell put up very good work.

Thundering Jet quickened well to join his companion Golden Parachute before the pair strode out well together to the line.

The three-year-olds, Big City Life, Forest Path and Zirconeum, all strode out well, but might have lost some fans simply because their youthful frames stood out when compared to the older horses. However, this is where the gallops can be misleading and a glance at the formbook, at least in the cases of Big City Life and Zirconeum, would restore confidence.

Kapil paraded in front of the grandstand. He jarred up in the Gold Challenge but has responded extremely well to treatment and is 100% sound. He is in full work on the sand but Stan Elley did not want to risk a grass workout.

Bouquet-Garni did not arrive at the course after refusing to load.

For those seeking a more definitive indication as to what the final result might be, the traditional Vodacom Durban July Gallops Sangoma was on hand to call on the ancestors for their predictions :

1st Number 3, 2nd Number 6, 3rd Number 7, 4th Number 17.

Daily News 2000 and Woolavington Stakes

Zirconeum
(Photo : Gold Circle)

 “BIG RACE DAYS : ALWAYS A CAUSE CELEBRE FOR VUMA”

Those who read the Sporting Post will undoubtedly know by now that, come the big days, there’s always a drum banging for horses that know the taste of Africa’s finest horsefeed.

Saturday’s gathering of the best three-year-olds in the land, witnessed the renewal of the Daily News 2000 (Gr.1) and the Woolavington Stakes (Gr.1), an assembly of the best colts and fillies respectively and the principal trials for the sophomore generation aiming at the biggest horse race in Africa, the Vodacom Durban July.

There was nothing really surprising about the outcome of either, as the winners represented some of the best form of the season, with Big City Life taking the colt’s version, and Zirconeum, bred across the valley from Summerhill by our neighbours, Karen and Warwick Render at Bush Hill Stud, snatching the laurels in the fillies’ version.

What wasn’t surprising though, was that the first three home in the Daily News 2000 were all sustained by Vuma (Big City Life trained by Glen Kotzen, Dan De Lago (Charles Laird) and Captain Scott (Alec Laird) while Zirconeum, the little filly with the heart of a giant, was another feather in the already substantial cap of Mike de Kock.

No doubt, knowing the protagonists, these fellows will all march on to the Greyville track on the first Saturday in July to the Vodacom jingle.