Top-rated Touch The Sky could spoil the De Kock party
The mostly imported Mike De Kock firepower outnumbers Geoff Woodruff with five runners to one in the topliner on the Turffontein inside track on Tuesday. Tactically De Kock looks to hold the trumpcard in the Fillies and Mares Allowance Plate – but Woodruff’s Touch The Sky is fit and boasts some decent form against better.
There are no prizes for guessing where the Cheveley Stud-bred Touch The Sky is headed in the not too distant future.
The beautifully bred 4yo is owned by top Cape breeders Varsfontein Stud and being out of the Royal Academy mare, Mystic Spring, she hails from a long line of good winners.
She was no cheapie either, having sold for R1,1 million on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1.
A relatively lightly raced winner of 2 of her 12 starts, she is fit and shown enough touches of class and ability at times to warrant serious note. Here her third to the exported In The Fast Lane in the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 during Champions Season of 2014 stands out as a seriously smart effort.
She is the highest rated galloper in the race, running off an MR of 92, and lumbered big weights in her last few starts when just off the action against the likes of Pine Princess and more recently, Vino Veritas.
The Allez France finish
The Allez France form makes for interesting consideration – despite the fact that it was run over 400m further.
There the smart Lertasha beat Touch The Sky by 1,50 lengths – but with a weight turnaround of 6,5kgs in her favour the Woodruff runner looks a serious factor.
De Kock has a quintet of runners.
Anthony Delpech’s engagement suggests that the Hard Spun 3yo Estidraaj may be the elect. She is the second highest rated runner in the field.
She won her maiden on the Greyville polytrack by 9,50 lengths at her second start but then finished 39 lengths back after a shocker at her first Gauteng start in mid-November. Her 16 week rest suggests she could have her problems but must have a chance off the 53,5kg mark – although her rating was earned on the poly.
Stablemate Noor Dubai won at her third start on the Greyville polytrack. She beat nothing of note but could be anything on her first run in turf.
The Centenary is the third of the De Kock imported 3yo’s.
The New Zealand-bred daughter of Mastercraftsman pulled up fatigued when running a poor race after two good wins in succession over ground in November.
Johnny Geroudis – rides Maayaat
Johnny Geroudis rides the Sebring filly Maayaat for De Kock.
She was baulked last time when running on strongly in an MR 74 Handicap over the Vaal 1800m and although there is speed in her dam-line, she could enjoy the 1800m at Turffontein.
The fifth of the De Kock team is Horse Chestnut’s daughter, Silent Force.
The 4yo boasts the distinction of being Mike’s first feature winner for his owner-wife Diane but this difficult ride was not striding out last time and looks better on sand
It would be foolish to discard the high-riding Sean Tarry yard.
Elusive Spirit carries topweight and faded out to 6,50 lengths behind after running handily in the Acacia Handicap on Guineas Day. She has not had much racing and is difficult to assess – but has splashes of isolated form.
Fire Wheel – second run after a long break
Fire Wheel has her second run after a two year break and could need another few runs to find her top game.
She ran on well for third a length off First Dance on her return and based on the confidence shown by her trainer in her 3yo season and on some of her best runs, she could produce a surprise .
Dream Galaxy enjoys the services again of Piere Strydom, who on her form-line appears the only jockey capable in recent times of getting a decent run out of her.
She finished 0,75 lengths ahead of Touch The Sky in the Allez France but carries a half kilo more and should battle to get ahead of Woodruff’s filly again.
