Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

De Kock continues to reign supreme

DAVID THISELTON
Mike de Kock reigned supreme at Clairwood again on Saturday, winning the Grade 1 Golden Slipper, losing the Grade 1 Golden Horseshoe in the boardroom, running one-two-three and five in the Grade 2 Gold Circle Oaks and running one-two in the Grade 2 Gold Circle Derby. That’s not to mention finishing fourth with Bold Silvano in the Grade 1 Champions Cup and winning a Graduation Plate with Straight Forward. Irish Flame, the ruling Vodacom Durban July favourite, has a fine turn of foot but took time to get going in the straight in the Derby on Saturday and had to be given a reminder by Kevin Shea before passing his stablemate Happy Valley to win by a length. The three-year-old Dynasty colt proved in the process that he handles any ground, the ultra testing mud of the SA Derby and the quick ground of Saturday’s meeting. De Kock said afterwards that he was very fit and would just need to be kept where he was for the July. There is an emotional side attached to Irish Flame whenever he runs. He was bred by Anton von Mollendorf, who later died in a tragic accident. Anton’s father Percy consequently took over ownership of both the dam and the foal. After Irish Flame had shown enormous promise on the track under Dean Kannemeyer, the offers were many, but Percy was reluctant to part with him as the horse would always offer him a reminder of his son. However, the bid made by Larry Nestadt, Bernard Kantor and Gary Barber was successful when Nestadt made the suggestion that Percy keep a share, which he has done. Nestadt, who always goes to the track with the attitude that his horse has the whole field to beat, will this year be trying to expunge the memory of his closest flirtation with the July trophy which came in 2000, when his horse Young Rake was adjudged to have been beaten by El Picha after a controversial ten minute decision. Happy Valley is by Alphabet Soup, who broke the track record for 2000m at Woodbine when beating Cigar in the 1996 Breeders Cup Classic. The resolutely galloping grey has bounced back to his best since gelding and proved on Saturday just what a good horse he is. He might not have done enough to get into the July, but if he does it will be a bonus to the De Kock yard as he is the type that could ensure a good gallop. Interestingly, he is from the same family as Sweetie Pie, who had earlier won the Gold Circle Oaks for de Kock under Muzi Yeni. Sweetie Pie, by Fort Wood, loved going the trip in her first attempt at it. She had a dipped back so was never put on a sale by breeder Mary Slack’s Wilgebosdrift Stud. The first three home in the Derby were drawn in the first three barrier positions, while Sweetie Pie, the least fancied of De Kock’s four runners, was drawn in pole. This underlined the importance of the draw over the Clairwood 2 400m, with it’s very sharp first turn. The Brazilian-bred Here To Win, chosen and owned by Norwegian racing journalist Bjorn Erik Lobben, looked dangerous at one stage and finished a good second, while Flitation completed the De Kock one-two-three by running a fine third from a very wide draw. Equiparada also had to overcome a very wide draw and only just failed to make it a De Kock quartet. One of De Kock’s most impressive winners on the day was the Galileo filly, Mahbooba, who won the Golden Slipper over 1 450m under Kevin Shea with an electrifying finishing burst. De Kock said the best of her would be seen when she goes ten furlongs, so she is a very exciting prospect and is sure to make an impact next season in Dubai and beyond. Copper Parade’s win provided prolific Port Elizabeth owner, Hedley McGrath, with his first Grade 1 winner.

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