Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

De Kock runners set to dominate

David Thiselton
Mike de Kock could dominate the supporting features on the card at Clairwood on Saturday and has a good chance in all four of them.
His best runner of the day will be the current Vodacom Durban July favourite Irish Flame who runs in the Grade 2 Gold Circle Derby over 2 400m.
De Kock said the star Derby and Daily News winner is a happy horse and in good shape. This is probably his optimum trip and he is very well drawn in three.
The Mike Bass-trained Super Storm is well regarded and could be one of the dangers, although with his wide draw he will need to come from some way back.
The De Kock-trained Happy Valley seems to love this track.
He has improved with gelding and as a resolute galloper should be thereabouts at the line. Service Ace, third in the SA Derby, is well drawn. He will love this distance again and will likely prefer the faster ground he should get compared to the testing going in the SA Derby. Fort Noble is super fit and could be a surprise earner here over a likely suitable course and distance from a good draw with Piere Strydom aboard. Al's Deputy, as a much improved sort who also stays this trip, and the promising stayer Mirage Drive make the most appeal of the rest. The selection is Irish Flame to win from Happy Valley with Super Storm, Service Ace and Fort Noble next best.
In the Grade 2 Gold Circle Oaks the de Kock-trained Equiparada has caught the eye in a few of her starts.
She is widely drawn but is usually dropped out anyway. She is probably ideally distance suited and will be running on strongly. De Kock has never had Flirtation fitter and she is also distance suited although also widely drawn.
The SA Oaks winner Arcola ran a very good race in the too short Woolavington over 2 000m and will relish stepping back up to this trip. Novelty is an improving sort who won a good race against older hosres in her first try at this distance. Anton Marcus is aboard from a nice draw.
El Jadida’s run in the Woolavington can be ignored having had to come from way back and being hit in the face with a clod.
From a good draw she could be thereabouts.
Tassie Belle has won at this course and is said to be in fine shape. She will be thereabouts if she stays, which she should from a nice draw having run on to win here over 2 000m. Zahira ran a good fifth in theWoolavington and is relatively unexposed so could surprise. Here To Win might find it a touch far, but could earn, while Comebackanddance should enjoy the trip and will be running on. SA Oaks second Salutation is widely drawn but will be a contender if at best in in her first outing since the Oaks.
Carol’s Triumph is well regarded and All Afire can’t be ignored with the gound likely to be faster than the mud of the SA Oaks. The selection is Equiparada to beat home Arcola with Flirtation, Novelty and El Jadida next best.
The Grade 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1 450m sees De Kock having a very strong hand with Kavanagh and Zanzamar, as well as Up And Running.
He felt Kavanagh would improve around the turn and made him his marginal choice over Zanzamar. The Assayer is a danger, as hanging late probably cost him victory against Zanzamar last time. The selection is Kavanagh to win from The Assayer and Zanzamar with Gold Onyx and Copper Parade next best.
In the Grade 1 Golden Slipper over 1 450m, victory could go to the De Kock-trained Mahbooba, who has a fine turn of foot and will love the step up to this trip. The Charles Laird-trained Hollywood Boulevard hasn’t had things her way in her last two starts. She is well drawn here and will also relish the step up in trip. Paul Lafferty thinks highly of Legal Account and she was unlucky last time when cramped and coming just too late to catch Empire Rose.
The Glen Kotzen pair of Six Blue Notes and Big On Broadway will relish the step up in trip and are in good shape so could also be contenders.
The selection is Mahbooba to beat home Hollywood Boulevard, Legal Account, Empire Rose and Six Blue Notes.

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