Star unbeaten 3yo Gimme A Nother has been given a well deserved break after being on the go for some time and racking up seven straight victories, culminating in a doddle in Saturday’s R1 million TAB Gr1 Empress Club Stakes.
This was the daughter of Gimmethegreenlight’s second straight Gr1 success, and now the obvious question is, will she go for the Hollywoodbets Durban July?
Gimme A Nother is resting and plans are fluid (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
A decision by master trainer Mike de Kock to take in the mixed age mile Gr1 on Saturday, rather than go the own age Gr2 route over the 2450m of the SA Oaks Triple Tiara proved the right one, even if Gimme A Nother gave her vast fan base some nervous moments, when her temperament got the better of her in the pre-race.
“She is pretty straightforward, but her temperament is becoming a bit of a problem, even with the pony. She picked up a small cut under her eye, but the Vet was happy. With the sticky going I didn’t want to be too far back. She went through her gears and won well,” added Mike de Kock.
On Gimme A Nother’s SA Champions Season plans, Mike de Kock, speaking to the Sporting Post from his son Mathew’s Cranbourne base in Australia, said that the obvious route would be the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July.
“I would like the public to know that there has been no final decision as to Gimme’s future plans. I am away in Australia, and Jessica (Jell) had travel issues over the weekend and is thus still in the USA. We will be having a meeting at the National Yearling Sale next week, and will then decide what route to take with this very valuable filly,” he confirmed.
The announcement on Tuesday by Gold Circle of the massively boosted SA Champions Season Stakes structure has led to plenty of interest, and there is no question that Gimme A Nother’s presence will add lustre to what looks likely to be a vintage renewal of the annual end-of-season racing festival.
Gimme A Nother is a third generation stakes winner trained by Mike de Kock. She was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, and is by champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the Tiger Ridge champion, Nother Russia, whose own dam, Mother Russia won the Gr1 Fancourt Majorca, the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes, the Gr1 Paddock Stakes and the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.
