Mike de Kock lauded the Betway Summer Cup on-course ‘energy’ and made it a 1-2 in the R350 000 Betway Gr3 Fillies Mile at Turffontein on Saturday.
The race heralded the arrival proper of the smashing Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein Stud-homebred Gimme A Nother, who made it three on the trot as she registered her maiden stakes success.
Gimme A Nother went on powerfully under Bryanston Auctioneers-sponsored JP van der Merwe (Pic – JC Photos)
Weaving her way homewards from midfield at the 300m marker, Gimme A Nother (3-1) went on powerfully under Bryanston Auctioneers-sponsored JP van der Merwe as she beat bridesmaid stablemate White Pearl (9-4) by 2 lengths in a time of 98,13 secs.
Sean Tarry’s Let’s Go Now (25-1) looked a potential winner at the 300m, but she faded slightly and was definitely not disgraced, a head back in third.
Winning rider JP van der Merwe said that it was a sluggish start and his mount was hard against the bit at the 600m.
“She’s quality and the further we go, the better she will get. But I will ride her over 1200m too,” laughed JP van der Merwe, who is enjoying a solid season.
Mike de Kock paid an accolade to former Cape champion trainer Joey Ramsden, who gave him the heads up about Mother Russia.
“I trained the grandmother, mother and now the daughter – I’m feeling old! But this is an honest hardknocking family. What an honour to train horses like this,” added an elated Mike de Kock.
The winner is by champion stallion Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein twice Gr1-winning champion homebred Nother Russia (Tiger Ridge), who in turn was the only foal produced by the four-times Gr1-winning champion Mother Russia (Windrush).
Jessical Jell mentioned that the mare had been covered recently again by Gimmethegreenlight and thanked Varsfontein Stud.
Gimme A Nother has won 3 from 3, with stakes earnings of R337 500.
The SA Triple Tiara is now on the radar for Gimme A Nother, although the veteran trainer said he was ‘not convinced’ about the SA Oaks third leg.
