Unbeaten Redcarpet Captain has to beat De Kock’s duo
It is probably accurate to suggest that Sean Tarry has spent much time in the past 20 years learning the ropes from his senior Mike De Kock. The roles are reversed though in Saturday’s R1 million Gr1 SA Nursery where De Kock takes a leaf out of the Tarry book and throws a smart filly in amongst the boys.
It was in 2014 where Tarry avoided the Majmu factor (still in its infancy then) in the SA Fillies Nursery , and ran his Captain Al flyer Carry On Alice in the males race.
History shows that she won it – in fact she not only won, she lowered the flag of the De Kock hotpot favourite Banaadeer!
Flyer
Mike De Kock – takes on the Van Zyl star with a two fisted punch
So Mike hasn’t forgotten and, while Sean Tarry does not have a runner here, De Kock introduces recent debut winner Shaama to face a frankly beatable looking bunch of boys – with an exception or two.
Shaama, like Majmu, is a daughter of Redoute’s Choice out of a multiple Gr1 winning family. She cost big money at sale in Australia and hails from a very decent Gr1 damline.
Sent off at 11/20 on debut the Mike De Kock trained newcomer Shaama won a fillies juvenile plate over 1160m easing down by a length and three quarters.
There are other incentives to run her here – R600 000 more in stake money, a 2,5kg sex allowance, an outside draw and she doesn’t get to bump her smart stablemate Entisaar.
Companion
But who does she have to beat?
Let’s suggest that the betting be watched on her stablemate Rafeef – a son of Redoute’s Choice out of the lightning fast champion National Colour – who was trained by Sean Tarry in her SA track career.
Just one of a host of magnificently bred youngsters in the De Kock string, Johnny Geroudis jumps aboard.
Gavin van Zyl – smart youngster on his hands
Gavin Van Zyl has a really nice string of 2yo’s this season and he saddles a coupling of the undefeated Gr3 Protea Stakes winner Redcarpet Captain the debut winning Var colt, Isca.
Redcarpet Captain has won two on the trot and looks an exciting prospect.
He beat Mogok Master with a sustained run on debut and then followed up with his scintillating Protea Stakes winner. S’manga Khumalo sticks with the son of Captain Al, who really and truly looks to have the likes of Arabian Beat, Mogok Master and Buckinghampshire beaten on his last start.
Isca has drawn down the inside of the track and beat Brazuca by two lengths on his debut seven weeks ago. He could be anything and has the added advantage of Piere Strydom in the saddle.
Very Fast
The very speedy Arabian Beat defeated subsequent winner Just Africa by four lengths on debut and then looked dangerous in the Protea Stakes when going down a two length second to Redcarpet Captain. He is drawn at 13 and could be getting even better with racing – they cannot let him get away.
Arctic Blast started a hot order on debut over Saturday’s course and distance but was emphatically beaten 2,50 lengths by Bindaloo, who was having his second run.
The beautifully bred Arctic Blast has Anton Marcus up and if he improves from his first start could well turn the tables on his conqueror.
But Bindaloo himself would have improved and the son of Visionaire really impressed when slowly away and still getting up to win.
Interestingly Donovan Mansour, who was aboard at his first two starts, gets aboard his maiden stablemate Brazuca.
That could well be an indicator that Brazuca is the better – but he remains held by Isca.
Cape Visitor
Buckinghamshire wins the Listed race on Met Day
Justin Snaith’s Buckinghampshire disappointed at his Gauteng opener when showing pace before fading to 6,50 lengths behind Redcarpet Captain in the Protea Stakes.
He won the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes on Met day with something in hand and the Australian-bred son of Lonhro is obviously better than that. Bernard Fayd’herbe stays with him and Snaith will be pleased that he has drawn on the outside this time.
The Robbie Sage trained Dolphin ran second on debut beaten some 4 lengths by Just Africa, ten days ago.
The son of Trippi will naturally need to show more if he is to challenge here.
Improver
Corne Spies – speedy Var flyer
Corne Spies saddles the speedy Var colt Kingoftheworld who has won two from four starts and appears to be improving with racing.
He was beaten 8,50 lengths in the Protea Stakes so it is difficult seeing him turn the tables on the smart Redcarpet Captain.
Just As I Said was beaten a short head by Kingoftheworld last time and he is yet to win in five starts – although placed every time. He looks well held.
Mogok Master has done little wrong earning at all his starts and winning one of the four.
He enjoys a 3kg swing with Isca for a six length beating at his penultimate jump and last time was beaten 3,50 lengths into third in the Protea Stakes by Redcarpet Captain. He does look held by the latter.
The second of the Marshall runners in Mystical Twilight, a maiden son of Great Britain who looks outclassed in this company on his three races to date.
Test
Redcarpet Captain has done nothing wrong. But Shaama will test his mettle to the limit.
Arabian Beat and Buckinghampshire look the best of the rest. And watch the betting on Rafeef.
