Mike De Kock – pleased with good win
A change of tactics has made the world of difference to Mike De Kock’s New Zealand bred, The Centenary. Randall Simons rode a cracking waiting race on the Mastercraftsman filly and produced her for an impressive late win in the R250 000 Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap at Turffontein on Saturday.
De Kock won the 1800m race on the standside track with the 3yo Pine Princess in 2014 and many expected the stable to produce the same magic again with the smart Ideal World filly Persian Rug.
Stable jockey Anthony Delpech took the ride and after giving the lightly raced galloper every chance when tracking the pacesetting Wild Ash into the home run, she compounded dramatically to fall away to nothing.
On the flipside of the coin, her stablemate The Centenary was allowed to idle lengths off the chase, and she came forward powerfully as the race changed complexion in the final stages.
Randall Simons rode a confident race as The Centenary held off a late challenge from the revitalised Marmalady, with Bilateral flying up late for third.
The winning margin was 1,50 lengths with a time of 110,54 secs.
Randall Simons. Rode the winner
Winning jockey Randall Simons said that felt that his mount’s last start was too far.
“My instructions were to give her a chance and when I came for home and saw everyone under pressure, I knew I just had to find a gap to have a serious chance.”
Mike De Kock confirmed the change of tactics had made a difference.
“We decided to drop her out and she maintained her consistent form. She is nothing to look at but is really well-bred, Well done to Winston Chow. We were disappointed with Persian Rug.That run was too bad to be true,” he said with mixed emotions.
The Centenary is a New Zealand Bloodstock 2013 Select Yearling Sale NZ$ 40 000 purchase.
She is a daughter of Danehill Dancer stallion Mastercraftsman out of the Montjeu mare, Diamantaire, a lightly raced, placed half-sister to Philidor.
The Irish-bred Mastercraftsman was hampion 2yo colt in Europe & Ireland in 2008 with 7 wins from 1200m to beyond 2000m.
The 4yo The Centenary has now won 5 races with 3 places from 15 starts and R461 375 in stakes.
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Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap (SAf-Gr3)
Turffontein, South Africa, October 31, R250k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.50.26
1 – THE CENTENARY (NZ), 56.0, b f 4, Mastercraftsman (IRE) – Diamantaire (NZ) by Montjeu (IRE). Owner Mr W Chow; Breeder bred in New Zealand; trainer MF de Kock; jockey R Simons
2 – Marmalady (AUS), 56.0, b m 5, Duke Of Marmalade (IRE) – Heaven Instead (AUS) by Carnegie (IRE)
3 – Bilateral (SAF), 58.5, b f 4, Lateral (GB) – Buccellati (SAF) by Secret Prospector (ANY)
Margins: 1.50, 1.25, 0.05
