Moving from an under the lights slot at Turffontein to the sunshine – weather is forecast as partly cloudy with a 53% chance of afternoon showers – of the Vaal, Saturday’s R350 000 Gr3 Victory Moon Stakes, a traditional Summer Cup preliminary, has attracted a quality field.
The race is weighted on merit rating bands with penalties for Gr1, Gr2 and Gr3 wins and after Saturday’s six winner rout by the Mike de Kock team, all eyes will be on the high-class 4yo Soqrat, who goes beyond the mile for only the second time in his career.
Soqrat – his stable will know a little more after tomorrow’s race (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Soqrat’s first try at 1800m ended with a meritorious 0,40 length defeat by the star racer Rainbow Bridge in the Gr1 Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Super Saturday. But the Vaal is a different track and this will be a test of note.
Mike de Kock is on record to that effect: “I’m very keen to see how he goes over 1800m in this sort of field. If I’m happy with the effort that he produces, I’m going to let him take his place in the Summer Cup.”
He added that purely on breeding it’s a bit difficult to calculate Soqrat’s best distance.
Mike De Kock – in form
“His sire Epaulette is fast but there is some staying ability on the dam’s side. His breeding is not that great but at times you almost scratch your head and wonder why he is so good. He’s come back well, he’s working nicely and he’s a very straightforward horse at the end of the day.”
Soqrat, a proven lethal miler, already showed his class with a facile win in a Pinnacle Stakes last month where he carried 62kg and won well. He is yet to run a poor race and has competed in Gr1 company in three provinces.
His stablemate Noble Secret is looking for further and made no show behind Barahin in last weekend’s Charity Mile. Racing is bound to bring him on and raise his game.
The SP top-rated Green Haze impressed with a five length win against weaker last time and the son of Gimmethegreenlight looks nicely weighted here off the 51kg mark.
Soldier On is another who looks to box competitively off his 51kgs and, if not in need of it after a 13 week break, he must be a contender for a place cheque.
The fairer sex have a good record in the race, having won it the last two years.They may find it tougher though this time round with the likes of Second Request and Seville Orange racing off form.
Unagi tends to lift his game for the bigger occasion but doesn’t strike one as a likely winner.
Consolation July winner Shenaningans should be staying on at the business end but looks hard-pressed to challenge the more fancied runners.
Divine Odyssey – is suspended – must surely be scratched.
‘KZN Derby winner Roy Had Enough was beaten 5 lengths by Soqrat last time and now strips a fitter horse and 3kgs better off with the De Kock charge. Is that enough to turn the tables?
Master Magic registered his fourth win from 16 starts last time but steps up in class and faces stronger.
The lightly tried Al Mutawakel gets thrown in the deep end in an interesting move by the astute Sean Tarry. He won his first three on the roll but was then beaten at 5-10at his first start after three months off when 1,80 lengths off Seattle Force – who was unplaced last Saturday in the Java Handicap.
While Green Haze is the horse to beat, Soqrat’s class could shine through.
Ed – The false rail is set at 3,5m on the back straight and bend with a 3,5m spur at the 600m mark. It is zero on outside rails to the pull up area
