Breathtaking and Unbeaten! Rumya glides ahead under Anthony Delpech to win the Gr1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas.(hamish Niven photography)
Mike De Kock stepped into the limelight at Kenilworth on Saturday with a terrific win in the first Gr1 race of the current Sizzling Summer Season. The undefeated grey Rumya’s emphatic triumph in the R750 000 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas was poetry in motion and showed again that there are not many better travellers anywhere in horseracing.
De Kock has often vented his disdain of the protocols that inhibit unfettered local and international travel and put it all together in the prestigious fillies race after many years of trying. Even champions have their ups and downs and the unfortunate Welwitschia incident in the previous race would no doubt have unsettled the master.
But things went swimmingly for the lovely grey daughter of Red Ransom, owned and bred by Sheik Mohamed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, on whom the Avontuur-sponsored Anthony Delpech rode a perfect race.
The pace was on from the jump with Star Jet going to head matters ahead of Earth’s Orbit, Rumya, Intimateconnection and Festival Of Fire, while All Is Secret was tucked away after being eased from a keen start.
Turning for home Star Jet shortened her stride with Earth’s Orbit moving through to lead.
Taking The Lead. Diane and Mike De Kock lead Rumya in after her outstanding win
At this point Rumya and Festival Of Fire commenced their challenge simultaneously. But a momentary hesitation by jockey Derreck David on Festival Of Fire cost him his position as Delepch took no prisoners as he went for home.
Rumya got to Earth’s Orbit and was then kept at it by Delpech as the Mike Bass-trained Hammie’s Hooker finished with a rattle. All Is Secret had every chance but was not rising to the challenges around her and became one-paced late.
Rumya held off a charging Hammie’s Hooker by 0,40 lengths in a time of 98,42 secs.
The Glen Kotzen-trained Jet Aglow improved her Paddock Stakes hopes dramatically and confirmed her high rating at home, by running a cracker and pipping All Is Secret for third.
De Kock declared afterwards that it was a meritorious win as Rumya had not enjoyed a straightforward prep and that she would only get better over further.
De Kock confirmed that his charge would likely head straight into the Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes on L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate day in just over a month from now.
Delpech said that it had helped that his filly had the draw in her favour. He suggested that she was very talented and said that the ‘penny hasn’t dropped yet.’ A clear indication that she has lengths improvement to come. That is exciting from a filly who fortuitously missed the Dubai flight earlier this year!
On Stage. The winners celebrate the Gr1 triumph
Rumya is now undefeated in her four career starts, which includes that dazzling win in the Gr1 Golden Slipper as a 2yo, and took her stake earnings with this victory to R870 000.
And she is certainly beautifully bred as her trainer reminded us.
She was bred in New Zealand and is by Red Ransom. Rumya’s dam Sayuri San (Fuji Kiseki) is a three-parts sister to the dam of the UAE Oaks winner, Raihana, who was also trained by De Kock and is a granddaughter of the champion racemare, Emancipation – a mare described by De Kock as ‘one of the best fillies ever to race in Australia.’
Bred in the purple by Bletchingly out of Ammo Girl, Emancipation ran 28 times for 19 wins and one second.
Racing between 1982 and 1984, she won numerous ‘class’ races like the Doncaster, Chipping Norton Stakes, George Main Stakes, George Ryder Stakes, All Aged Stakes, Edward Manifiold Stakes, Coolmore Classic, Light Fingers Stakes, Canterbury Stakes, STC Hill STakes, Chelmsford Stakes, Apollo Stakes and Carbine Club Stakes.She won $550,510 in her career and was 1984 Australian Horse Of The Year.
At stud, her daughters, Virage (by Kenmare) and La Suffragette (by Palace Music), have produced the multiple Group One winners Virage De Fortune (by Anabaa) and Railings (by Zabeel).
The Avontuur Man! Anthony Delpech rode the winner. (hamish Niven photography)
On a perfect afternoon for the Avontuur team, the winner statistics added to the hugely positive debrief of a day that continues to grow in stature.
The local big brand also had a hand in plenty of the celebrations.
Their resident stallion Var sired three winners. These included the Gr2 Tony Taberer Southern Cross Stakes winner Via Afrika, as well as the final race winner, Heritage Wood, who was also bred by Pippa Mickleburgh.
The Avontuur sponsored jockeys also held the dark green flag high, with Anthony Delpech winning the Gr1 Fillies Guineas, while MJ Byleveld rode the winner of the Listed Val De Ra Southeaster Sprint.
And then a good friend of Avontuur in Mike De Kock won the day’s mainliner.
It doesn’t get scripted better than that!
A champagne day all round.
Result:
Cape Fillies Guineas (SAf-G1) (12/8)
Kenilworth, South Africa, December 8, R750.000, 1600m, turf, good, 1.38.52
(CR 1.36.20).
RUMYA (NZ), 58.0, gr f 3, Red Ransom (USA) – Sayuri San (AUS) by Fuji Kiseki
(JPN). Owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum; bred in New Zealand;
trainer MF de Kock; jockey A Delpech (R468.750)
Hammie’s Hooker (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Trippi (USA) – Gem Queen (SAF) by
Damascus Gate (USA)
Jet Aglow (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Jet Master (SAF) – Lighthouse Girl (SAF) by
Argosy (USA)
Margins: ½, 1½, sh hd
