Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

De Kock Happy with July trio

David Thiselton
Mike de Kock, who was last Saturday a boardroom decision away from breaking his record of three feature wins on a day, said that all of his runners had pulled up well.
Of his Vodacom Durban July contenders, he was pleased with the runs of Irish Flame, Happy Valley and Bold Sivano, but not enamoured with the run of Rudra. The top trainer said of the impressively resolute galloper, Happy Valley, “If he doesn’t get into the July, Irish Flame shouldn’t be July favourite.’’
Happy Valley finished just a length behind Irish Flame in the Grade 2 Gold Circle Oaks over 2 400m and was five lengths ahead of the third horse, Service Ace.
De Kock agreed that Happy Valley would be a valuable asset to the yard in the July as he is the type that could ensure a good gallop.
“He won’t be stopping at the end either,’ he added.
He said of Bold Silvano’s Champions Cup run, “He was too far back. The first three places went to horses who were in the first four in the running. Bold Silvano was the only one of the field who really made up ground in the straight.’’
Of Rudra, he said, “It was a bad run. He pulled up coughing. We did some tests and he had no issues, he probably just got the worst of the kickback.’’
De Kock was not complimentary about the Clairwood track.
“A lot of horses are returning from there with eye issues, which points to there being an excess of loose ground.’’
Kevin Shea spoke about the two best De Kock juveniles of the day, Mahbooba and Kavanagh.
He implied that Mahbooba was one of the best two-year-old fillies he had sat on and added, "She is better than Raihana was."
The latter went on to win the UAE Oaks and finish second to Musir in the UAE Derby.
De Kock added, "Mahbooba has done enough and has nothing left to prove. She won't run again until Dubai where she will go the same route as Raihana.’’
Shea felt that Kavanagh, who lost on an objection to the Joey Ramsden-trained Copper Parade, deserved to win the race. He said the Tiger Ridge colt hadn’t had much left at the end as he had sent him for home early. He felt he would prefer the 1 600m of the Premier’s Champion Stakes on July day, a race he reckoned would tell who was the better, him or Copper Parade."
De Kock added, “Kavanagh’s also had a few runs. I will only run him on July day if he draws well.’’
De Kock was not surprised with Sweetie Pie's win in the Gold Circle Oaks and spoke glowingly of the family she comes from, the same family as Happy Valley’s.“She didn’t travel well up to Jo'burg and didn't travel well coming back. So she had bad luck in her last two runs.’’
De Kock felt that the more likely option for her on July day would be the Campanajo 2200, previously known as the July Consolation.
He said that Equiparada, Flirtation and Here To Win could all be possibilities for the Gold Vase or the Campanajo on July day or the Off To Stud Handicap over 1800m at Scottsville on July 24.
The Herman Brown yard said that Orbison had pulled up perfectly from his Champions Cup win, besides having a closed eye the morning afterwards.
They reckoned that not only is he better than 2006 July runner up Sushisan, but would also be a better horse at Greyville than Clairwood.

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