‘Maybe I’m Wrong – Astrix Best In Land?’- De Kock

Filly headed to the Hollywoodbets Durban July!

Sparkling Water was headed in the final few strides of the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday – she did everything but win, and trainer Mike de Kock, whilst disappointed with her narrow defeat, was very pleased with her run.

Mike said: “We think Sparkling Water will be a big Hollywoodbets Durban July runner, she’ll be leaving for Durban this week. We’ll have to see, however, how the handicapper will view the result of the Premiers Challenge.”

Sparkling Water wins it on the angle as Astrix looms up on the outside (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

Sparkling Water (MR 115) was beaten a short head by the MR112-rated Astrix, followed 2.25-lengths by Puerto Manzano (MR120) and Flying Carpet (MR116), with Kommetdieding (MR129) beaten 4.25-lengths into fifth.

Mike commented: “It will be interesting to see how the ratings are adjusted. Sparkling Water was beaten here at weight-for-age by a well-exposed horse rated 112. Astrix has been at 112 for his last nine starts. You can’t use fifth-placed Kommetdieding as a line horse. I’m don’t think the third horse is a true MR120. It depends which one the handicappers use as their yardstick here. I’m not sure how they are going to look at this race.

“The problem lies in the fact that a few runners including third horse, Puertio Manzono, are not correctly rated. He received a 9lb penalty for running third to MK’s Pride last time, himself in my opinion a little bit high at 122. So, my question is, would Astrix now all of a sudden be between 8lb and 10lb better than he was in his previous nine starts? I can’t work that out. They will probably use the third horse, Puerto Manzano, make him a 122 and Sparkling Water a 121. But the question remains, is the well exposed Astrix now a MR120 or a MR122? If he is, then how do they explain his last nine runs and how does he improve so drastically?

“I think the handicappers had a  number of the horses in the Premiers field rated too high and this had a knock-on effect. Sparkling Water should just about be the line horse. She’s been consistent and she’s run with these horses all the time. Maybe those runners beaten by the winner are not as good as the handicappers think they are. Or perhaps I am wrong and Asterix is now the best horse in the land, I don’t know.”

“Whatever the ratings outcome, we’ll be looking at the July for our filly. Sparkling Water is a tough filly and we’ll have a crack.”

Have Your Say - *Please Use Your Name & Surname

Comments Policy
The Sporting Post encourages readers to comment in the spirit of enlightening the topic being discussed, to add opinions or correct errors. All posts are accepted on the condition that the Sporting Post can at any time alter, correct or remove comments, either partially or entirely.

All posters are required to post under their actual name and surname – no anonymous posts or use of pseudonyms will be accepted. You can adjust your display name on your account page or to send corrections privately to the EditorThe Sporting Post will not publish comments submitted anonymously or under pseudonyms.

Please note that the views that are published are not necessarily those of the Sporting Post.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
19 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Share:

Facebook
WhatsApp
Twitter

Popular Posts