Dynasty’s smart son Sir David Baird is surprisingly easy to back for Saturday’s Gr1 Cape Guineas at Kenilworth – and it may be worth snapping up some of that value.
Mike De Kock – ace up the sleeve
Sir David Baird won the recent Listed KZN Guineas Trial in effortless fashion and comes into the Guineas very fit and very well.
Speaking on his website, www.mikedekockracing.com, trainer Mike de Kock said on Wednesday morning: “Sir David Baird and Like A Panther have been in Cape Town for a few weeks and we’ve had a chance to gallop them at the track. We’re expecting good runs from both.”
He said about Sir David Baird: “He has something about him, there is something there. He was beaten against expectations over 1400m twice, once by the smart Surcharge, but all he needed was the bend and a mile and he showed what he was capable of.
“Sir David Baird beat a weak field in the Guineas Trial, but he wasn’t near extended so should handle the step up. He’s well drawn and has a good jockey, two factors we don’t have to worry about.”
Mike added: “If I look at Saturday’s Guineas I see no obvious stars, they haven’t revealed themselves yet. Nothing jumps off the page. Vaughan Marshall’s Tap O’Noth is probably the best of the opposition, he may come out of it victorious as the champion among them, but it could be us too, it could be Sir David Baird. We’re keen to see how he goes.”
Like A Panther, Mike opined, will be better over 2000m ad further. “He’s a good Derby prospect for us. He will be hard pressed to win a mile at this level. But he’ll be staying on, he has place prospects.”
