Unbeatable? Vercingetorix is now on track for the July
The unbeaten Mike De Kock trained Vercingetorix took his next step to Vodacom Durban July glory with a gutsy win in the R1,5 million Gr1 Daily News 2000 at Greyville on Saturday.There are question marks against his ability over the 2200m though, after he withstood the kitchen sink in those final strides.
Trainer Mike De Kock has pulled yet another brilliant rabbit out of the hat with this talented colt who only shed his maiden just over two months previously at the Vaal on his debut on 28 March.
That’s great going. From the bottom run of the ladder to a peep above the clouds of Gr1 glory and a provisionally booked place in the history books amongst our greats, with a July win bid beckoning.
Vercingetorix also completed a terrific Gr1 double on the afternoon for his sire Silvano, after Do You Remember had won the Woolavington a half hour earlier.
His win was all guts and courage, after he had hit the front and clung on for what must have seemed like an eternity for his backers.
Gavin Van Zyl’s No Worries was gaining rapidly late to grab second, marginally shading Capetown Noir who took for ever to get going. It was still an eyecatching effort by the Cape colt.
The Gr1 SA Derby winner Wylie Hall was also charging late and finished fourth and just a quarter length behind the winner.
Just a length covered the first five, with Vercingetorix’s stablemate Rock Cocktail also staying on well for fifth.
Rock Cocktail led early from Yorker, who had overcome his poor draw, with Abercrombie and Wylie Hall next. Thereafter Vercingetorix loped along with Silvano’s Jet next, ahead of Capetown Noir on the fence. No Worries was further back.
Into the straight Marcus took Yorker up the shortest path for home, and was immediately challenged by Rock Cocktail soon after they came for home.
Delpech was unleashing Vercingetorix at the same time and he quickened dramatically to lead at the 300m marker.
Capetown Noir was also weaving his way through and putting in a sustained finish as the longshot No Worries began his challenge, with Wylie Hall doing smart work late.
In a thriller of a grandstand finish, Vercingetorix managed to keep going gamely and he won by a short head in a time of 121,33 secs.
If there are to be disappointments, then the likes of Yorker (4,90 lengths), Tellina(7,40 lengths) and the seeming one hit wonder War Horse (7,50 lengths) fall into this category.
Winning trainer Mike de Kock said afterwards: “It’s on record that I said that I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet. I would have a doubt about how much further he’ll go than this. That’s got to be a worry.However, we’ll probably have to ride him differently. He quickened too quickly. He was there and when Anthony asked him he shot clear, almost too quickly. If you ran a horse like this in the July, you’d have to consider riding him from a bit more off the pace and be a bit more patient because he has got tremendous acceleration.
“He’s got no miles on his legs . He spent most of his two-year-old career injured and has had a few niggles and problems. We’ve been playing with him and between the Guineas and Daily News 2000 I haven’t really wound him up that much. I think this horse has still got a bit to come. He is going to need it in the July.”
Winning jockey Anthony Delpech, who had a great day at the office, said: “I would have liked the pace to have been a bit quicker, but I was happy to be where I was – I was in a beautiful position. I just wanted to ensure that I got a clear run. He quickens and gets there very easily and then he tends to loaf. He waited for them to come and wanted to go again. He’s a very good horse. When he learns to race properly, then this will be a serious horse.”
Vercingetorix was bred by Klawervlei Stud and is by Silvano out of the five time winning National Assembly mare, National Vixen.
He was bought for R200 000 on the Klawervlei Sale by the Riverside Grooms Co Operative, raised at Duncan Barry’s Riverton Stud and then resold for R1,4 million on the National Yearling Sale.
De Kock and his bloodstock advisor Jehan Malherbe bought only one horse on that sale and the progress of the youngster has obviously proved very exciting and pleasing for the team. De Kock also paid tribute to the Maktoum’s for their contribution.
Vercingetorix has now won four from four and with R1 410 000 earned, is now in a credit position!
The Durban July picture has heated up a few degrees, and the connections of all of the top five finishers in this event have plenty to be excited about.
