Courageous win! Alexandra Palace (Anthony Delpech) on the outside holds American Storm (Karl Zechner) to win the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes
Mike De Kock may have a serious Cape Derby candidate on his hands after the well-bred Alexandra Palace got up in an exciting finish to win the R150 000 Listed Sea Cottage Stakes run over 1800m at Turffontein on Sunday.
Alexandra Palace is the only De Kock runner amongst the 20 entries for the R600 000 Gr1 Investec Cape Derby to be run on 2 February. This win at his third outing was full of merit.
The only filly in the race, Fire Wheel, with Robbie Fradd replacing Piere Strydom, led at a comfortable gallop from Alexandra Palace and Sabadell, with Double Bind relaxed at the rear.
Fire Wheel dictated a slow pace from Antarctic Call, Alexandra Palace and No Worries, with the rest of the field spread at intervals behind those.
Fire Wheel continued to gallop smoothly into the 400m with challenges emerging from Sabadell and Alexandra Palace, and American Storm looking for a way through.
Fire Wheel continued to plug away as the challenges overtook her on either side.
The Avontuur Man! Anthony Delpech rode the winner
In a thrilling finish Delpech coaxed a great effort from his ride who stormed forward to hold a flying American Storm on the rail. The winner started a 5-2 favourite and won by a short head in a time of 110,14 secs.
Fire Wheel ran a cracker to stay on well for third a half length off, while Gray’s Champ ran on solidly with no room to manoeuvre late.
Both Assistant trainer Matthew De Kock and jockey Anthony Delpech felt that the winning Jet Master colt may have just needed the run and the inside track was not ideal for him.
They agreed that he had a ‘lot to come.’
Delpech said that he had decided to skip his KZN commitments, where he had good rides, to stay with Alexandra Palace. He called him a ‘very smart horse.’
The Varsfontein Stud –bred Alexandra Palace is by Jet Master out of the Darshaan mare, Alexandra Bi, who won twice in Italy.
Alexandra Palace went for R2 500 000 on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1
He is now a winner of 2 of his 3 starts with 1 place, for total earnings of R155 625.
His presence would add plenty of interest to the Cape Derby.
