The strength of the Mike de Kock juvenile arsenal this term is underlined again in the R750 000 Gr1 Thekwini Stakes at Greyville on Saturday.
The champion saddles two runners, headed by Ruffian Stakes winner Dagmar, who could give the China Horse Club their first SA Gr1 success.
China Horse Club’s Dagmar (JC Photographics)
The first yearling ever purchased by the China Horse Club at auction in South Africa, broke her maiden on debut in the Listed Ruffian Stakes over 1000m at Turffontein in March, to give the CHC a memorable first victory in this country.
The Maine Chance bred Dagmar was selected and signed for by CHC’s Michael Wallace at R450 000 off the 2017 Cape Premier Yearling Sale.
Her biggest opposition could be provided by Tobie Spies’ hardknocking Golden Slipper runner-up Mazari, who also chased Firdoas home in the Devon Air. Mike de Kock has a handy line on his opposition through that form.
Mazari chases Celtic Sea home in the Golden Slipper
But Mazari, who is the most well tried runner in the field, has pulled a wide draw and regular rider Craig Zackey will have some serious strategizing to do.
Gareth van Zyl’s maiden Can You Feel It ran a cracker in the Golden Slipper when 1,75 lengths behind the far more experienced Mazari. The daughter of Jackson has a favourable 4 gate and the very capable Warren Kennedy at the wheel.
Return Flight is the first of the Tarry coupling. The daughter of Pomodoro gets a swing of 2kgs with Dagmar for under a length beating last time. A two-time winner who scored by over 11 lengths in her maiden, she could be worth following and will now be ridden by Anton Marcus.
Chesney van Zyl’s Railtrip was the ham on the sandwich between Dagmar and Return Flight and comes in on the same weight terms.
Piere Strydom – rides Storm Destiny
The beautifully-bred Storm Destiny is the second of the De Kock duo and jumps from the wide outside draw. Piere Strydom can balance that disadvantage, but she looks held by her stablemate.
Lucky Houdalakis’ recent Turffontein mile maiden winner Long Pond has drawn wide and is held by Storm Destiny on her penultimate jump.
Mike Azzie’s Perfect Tigress beat Riptide on a winning debut but that form was not franked last Saturday at Turffontein. The R20 000 purchase daughter of Where’s That Tiger is drawn nicely on the paint- how good is she?
Sand Princess won well on her Vaal debut last month, but didn’t enjoy the polytrack next time. If S’manga Khumalo can overcome her wide draw, she may be worth including in quartets.
Gimme A Brake Nate improved nicely when stepped up to the 1500m at her fourth start to win her maiden. She has earned at all her starts bar her debut and could have further scope for improvement.
