July Gloves Are Off

Espumanti draws clear to win the Betting World 1900 with ease

Champion trainer Mike De Kock threw down the gauntlet to the July panel at Greyville on Friday evening, suggesting that his Dansili filly Espumanti had done enough to qualify for the big one. The Wilgerbosdrift Stud owned flyer beat a good field of males to win the R350 000 Gr2 Betting World 1900.

The victory in this  feature conferred ‘preferential consideration’ for the July on Espumanti and De Kock said that his charge would go straight into the race on 5 July.

He added with typical confidence that ‘they would be hard pressed to leave this one out.’

The top four would all have made their mark on the big race picture.

Espumanti is currently at number 19 on the July log, with the second placed Punta Arenas at 11. The consistent Halve The Deficit, who ran a great third, is at 17, with fourth placed Tribal Dance one of the marginal ‘next ten.’

The refreshed log is due out on Tuesday 3 June and there is plenty of water to flow under the bridge before then.

Espumanti eventually jumped a weak tote favourite in a field that comprised  five July log candidates and a further five fringe hopefuls.

The false rail was set at 7m and fanned  the field out in the dash for home as Tribal Dance and Halve The Deficit looked dangerous with One Cool Dude also kicking late.

Anthony Delpech and Mke De Kock are all smiles at the lead in

But Anthony Delpech had plenty in reserve and he ghosted down the rail and pinched a crucial lead at a vital stage as his mount looked to be gaining momentum, rather than stopping.

Espumanti charged clear hugging the rail to win going away by 2,25 lengths in a time of 117,68 secs.

Cape challenger Punta Arenas confirmed the promise of his recent Drill Hall Stakes effort with a late dash to nab the gallant Halve The Deficit for second. Both horses would have kept their July prospects alive.

Former East Cape Derby winner Tribal Dance was always thereabouts and the blinkers had the desired effect as he stayed on for an improved effort in fourth.

Dean Kannemeyer’s Gold Cup hope Hot Ticket was run off his feet early and ran wide into the straight. He finished his race off nicely after a rest and his 6,90 lengths behind the winner would have boosted his connections hopes for a good season.

The fancied Rio Carnival finished third last and 8,15 lengths back. He was reported coughing and looks to have a mountain to climb to bounce back from this sort of low.

Espumanti was the second winner on the night for the top trainer/owner/ jockey combination after the lovely Encosta De Lago filly Modern Muse improved nicely on her debut outing to win the first race on the programme.

Jockey Anthony Delpech said afterwards that the Betting World 1900 had worked out very well and that he had secured a lovely position early.

“This was the best I have felt her. She picked it up really well when asked and they were never going to get to me. And the further the better for her, I believe,” he said.

Owner Mary Slack always believed in Espumanti

Trainer Mike De Kock said that Espumanti had not been herself during the Cape season but that the trip down South had actually benefitted her.

“She is over the niggles of her younger days. I am aware that a lot of those behind her will improve out of this race, but she is very good. I must thank my team again, I have been travelling a lot” he said.

Espumanti was bred in the UK by New England Stud, Myriad and N. Wright and is by Dansili out of the British bred Reprimand mare, Jouet.

Astute owner Mary Slack has always believed in the filly and purchased her dam long before Espumanti had fully proven herself.

Her biggest previous win was the 2013 Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge. She has now won 6 races with 6 places from 16 starts and took her earnings to R1 055 000.

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