Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

De Kock holds the cards but ...

David Thiselton
The Champions Cup meeting at Clairwood on Saturday is packed with top class action and although Mike de Kock holds the trump cards in the four supporting features, there are some trainers who believe they also have live chances.
Before the features start there is a difficult race to assess in the first leg of the Pick 6, a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1 000m. However, Charles Laird is confident that Warm White Night will bounce back to his best. “He is very, very well,’’ said Laird. “Anton has been trying to put him to bed early on behind horses, but he doesn’t seem to enjoy it. I think he needs to be right there from the off and that's what we will do this time.’’ Dennis Bosch has Computaform Sprint winner Noble Heir in the field and said, “She is very, very well and 1 000m is her best trip. She was close to her peak last time in the Post Merchants over 1 200m and didn't run badly, leading them and not finishing far back carrying 59kg. No front-runners won that night. I just hope this race hasn't come too soon, but I don't think it has.’’ Mike Bass has been perplexed by Gaultier and said, “The jockeys that work him say he will win by half the racecourse, but comes the race and he's the first one gone. We can't find anything wrong. He seems to only run well in his first race in Durban as he did this season, but this is the same course as that first 1 200m run and it's over 1 000m so he could run better.’’ Bass runs Novelty and El Jadida in the Grade 2 Gold Circle Oaks over 2 400m and gave them both each-way chances. He felt stable jockey Bernard Fayd’herbe would be best suited to El Jadida, but reckoned that Novelty, who will be ridden by Anton Marcus, could be the yard first choice. Darryl Hodgson runs Comebackanddance and said, “The wide draw isn’t too much of a worry as she needs to be dropped out. Last time in the Woolavington she wasn’t dropped out as she should be. She must be given a chance.’’ Weiho Marwing said that SA Oaks winner Arcola, who finished fifth in the Woolavington over the too short 2 000m was ’’fine’’. She will relish the step back to 2 400m and must be on the shortlist. Adam Marcus said, “Tassie Belle is well. We think she will stay and if she does she will run a cracker. Carol’s Triumph is a lovely filly whom we think very highly of. I just hope this race hasn’t come too soon after her last win.’’ One of the main dangers to Irish Flame in the Gold Circle Derby will be the Bass-trained Super Storm and he said, “He’s very well, but the wide draw is a big disadvantage over this course and distance and he will be some way back. He’s a smart little horse, not the strongest though and will be better next year. He quickened very well at Greyville last time.’’ Paul Lafferty said, “Fort Noble is extremely fit and with Strydom aboard could run into the money. Vin D’Honneur will stay the trip but it’s a hard race.’’ Sean Tarry runs two horses, Gold Onyx and The Mouseketeer, in the Grade 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1 450m and said, “They are both doing well but Mike de Kock seems to have this race at his mercy.’’ Charles Laird also has a pair of horses here, The Assayer and Western Front, with Anton Marcus aboard the former. Laird said, “They have both had good preps and will run well.’’ Lafferty said, “Old Mac Donald is decent, but its tough and he will be better next season. I’ll be thrilled with a place.’’ Laird runs Hollywood Boulevard in the Grade 1 Golden Slipper over 1 450m and said, “She is very well. She will appreciate the step up in trip as she is looking for a mile already.’’ Lafferty is very bullish about Legal Account. “I’m confident that she’s in the top three two-year-old fillies in the country over this distance. She was very unlucky last time and has been working like a train. She will need some luck in running and is up against Empire Rose again.’’ Glen Kotzen runs Big On Broadway and Six Blue Notes and said, “Neither of them enjoyed Scottsville last time and Six Blue Notes confirmed that by running a good race next time out. They will both appreciate this distance. There is noÿ¿OLch between them.’’

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