Mike de Kock has been lurking in the shadows of the beach umbrella this Cape Summer Season – but the master trainer produced yet another Gr1 winner when the Irish-bred Queen Supreme galloped into the record books at Kenilworth on Saturday to join the likes of 21st century dual Paddock Stakes winners Beach Beauty and Oh Susanna.
De Kock, whose previous Paddock Stakes winners include Mother Russia (2010), Angelina (2004), Escoleta Fitz (2002) and Dog Wood (1999), saddled one of the two yellow and black clad Mauritzfontein flagbearers in Saturday’s race, with Paul Peter’s younger Summer Pudding going off an even money favourite to register her tenth career victory and maintain her unbeaten record.
The browbanded Queen Supreme charges clear under Keagan de Melo (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
But the honours fell to the 5yo Queen Supreme, who made it back-to-back victories in the prestigious R500 000 Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes when she drew clear at the 300m to give KZN jockey Keagan de Melo the easiest Gr1 winner that he’d ride – that in his words.
The frenetic early pace set by Summer Pudding’s stablemate Heart Stwings and the Snaith mare Silvano’s Pride made it a more than true-run affair – almost too quick in the minds of some jockeys – with Queen Supreme (3-1) asserting herself to beat Gr1 winner Clouds Unfold (6-1) by 2,25 lengths in a time of 110,32 secs.
Adam Marcus’ Princess Calla (16-1) was the first of the 3yo’s home and the daughter of Flower Alley produced a superb effort.
Summer Pudding was ideally placed but never quickened from midfield and she had to be content with seventh position, just under 5 lengths off the winner.
Mike de Kock, who said this was mission accomplished for Queen Supreme, expressed empathy with his colleague Paul Peter.
“It’s not easy to travel – sometimes we get lucky. Then first time from a wide gate on a new course in a field of this calibre. I’m sure Summer Pudding will be back,” he added.
Bred by Thomas Hassett, Queen Supreme is a daughter Exceed And Excel out of the unraced Gone West mare Call Later, who has now produced three Stakes winners including Be Ready, a son of New Approach who won the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes.
The winning lead – in (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Queen Supreme was purchased as a yearling at Goffs by Mayfair Speculators for €130 000. Mike de Kock acknowledged Markus Jooste as having been instrumental in the purchase of the winner – “We picked her up afterwards off a dispersal sale,” he added.
She has now won 7 races with 5 places from 13 starts for stakes of R1 595 700.
- Ed – Tellytrack reported Summer Pudding was found to have mucous in a respiratory tract when scoped post-race
