Dynasty’s De Kock Dazzles

Superb. De Kock (Glen Hatt) finishes best of all to win the Selangor Cup (Equine Edge)

The R300 000 Gr2 Selangor Cup produced a thrilling finish at Kenilworth on Saturday, with sons of Dynasty achieving a notable milestone, with just three quarters of a length seperating them in the quartet. Brett Crawford and Glen Hatt emerged victorious with the promising Gary Player Stud bred De Kock, who powered through late to win a cracker.

The brilliant Dynasty won the Selangor Cup in his year and the sire put the seal on a great afternoon. He also produced the winner of the 3200m Listed Kenilworth Cup later in the day, when the 7yo soldier Paddy O’Reilly gave his opponents a galloping lesson under topweight.

Expert opinion is undivided on the fact that the feat of a stallion siring the first four finishers in a Group race is a major one anywhere on earth. The son of Northern Dancer, Sadler’s Wells and our very own local hero, Captain Al have celebrated the  achievement in recent times..

Captain Al produced the winning quartet in the 2010 Gr3 Diana Stakes when Justin Snaith’s Townsend beat the Darryl Hodgson trained Play Nice, with Possible Dream and Tick Tock filling the balance of the places.

The 2013 Selangor Cup was all about Dynasty and his sons at the end of the day, and was also the first leg of a terrific double for trainer Brett Crawford and stable jockey Glen Hatt, who emerged from the shadows to seriously challenge the Cape’s established top yards.

Greg Cheyne took the newly blinkered Juddering Angel up to lead early and the son of Judpot carted them along early and to show the way to Capel Top and Speed Rocket. Captain On The Run was further back with Dynastic Power and Zambezi Torrent just off them.

Juddering Angel still led at the 400mas Captain On The Run flattered briefly down the rail, with Speed Rocket and Dynastic Power looking to have serious chances for money.

But Hatt had been sitting in midfield with plenty in reserve and he switched De Kock outside for a clear run as Legislate launched his challenge down rail at the same moment.

In a thrilling drive to the wire De Kock won by a neck and held the determined Legislate in a time of 99, 95 secs.

Stan Elley’s Dynastic Power was always thereabouts and stayed on to shade Dean Kannemeyer’s Speed Rocket for third.

All of the top four colts look to have plenty of wins between them.

De Kock is out of the twice winning Al Mufti mare, Sharp Performer.

The winner is a R375 000 National Yearling Sale purchase and was bred by Gary Player Stud.

A winner of 2 races with 3 places from 5 starts, he took his stake earnings with this victory to R280 350.

Now that he has found his winning notes, De Kock should train on into a superb athlete. Just like the man whose name he carries.