Mike de Kock’s Gauteng Guineas win strike-rate stands at an impressive 50% over the past decade. But the master trainer’s quartet of runners in the 2018 renewal on Saturday will have to be at their best in what looks to be a particularly competitive year.
The Johannesburg first leg of the SA Triple Crown – Tap O’Noth won the alternate first leg of the Cape Guineas – sees a capacity field of 16 runners lining up to contest the R1 million stake. With a lone raider in the line-up, it’s very much a locally dominated affair.
A line throuugh Dingaans run? Big Bear is our top-rated runner
Sean Tarry has a trio of runners and the SA champion trainer pleasingly found a semblance of more serious form last Saturday and could continue in that vein here, with Big Bear the SP top-rated runner.
The son of Await The Dawn has drawn wide and comes in off a 13 week break following an unplaced run in the Dingaans, when just under 3 lengths off Monks Hood. Big Bear achieved his rating on his penultimate run when beating Gr1 winner Brave Mary in the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup. While restricted sales races can dish up questionable form at times, it is worth noting that all of Takingthepeace (3rd there), Surcharge – yes the very same – ran fifth and has gone on to win twice, together with another subsequent dual winner in Cash Time, who finished eighth. Simply – if Big Bear handles the mile, there is no question he rates a massive runner!
.Progressive Surcharge a massive runner
The joint officially highest-rated Surcharge won the Tony Ruffel Stakes in the style of a promising sort and gets the services again of Piere Strydom. The son of Gimmethegreenlight has won 5 of his 7 starts and should not be too fazed by his wide draw – he likes to run at them late and doesn’t enjoy being bustled early. He must contest the finish on what he has shown.
Unbeaten Majestic Mambo – exciting 3yo
The Moutonshoek bred Majestic Mambo is one of the most exciting 3yo’s around and the Paul Peter runner comes in off three unbeaten runs – his last an impressive step up in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes. This bargain buy – he cost just R40 000 at sale – has won all three starts over 1800m and it is a minor worry that he now drops 200m to the mile. That said, he has won by an aggregate of close on 12 lengths and could be good enough to take his proven contemporaries on and beat them.
KZN challenger Monks Hood – highest rated officially alongside Surcharge – looks to follow in the footsteps of his provincial counterpart Harry’s Son, who won this race in 2015. The Alistair Gordon-trained gelding showed that he is getting better with every run when coasting home against older horses at his Scottsville prep last month. The son of Querari will be out to show that his course and distance win in the Dingaans late last year was no fluke and he will enjoy the services of his regular big-race rider, Anthony Delpech.
.KZN challenger Monks Hood
Mike de Kock’s quartet is headed by the Dynasty gelding Noble Secret who runs in the famous Livanos gold and royal blue. The gelding registered his second win from three starts going away at the Vaal last time out and gets thrown in the deep end. He could be just about anything.
Anton Marcus – top man
Anton Marcus rides stablemate Royal Crusade, who gets the blinkers fitted from a 1 draw with Anton Marcus in the irons. He appeared slightly outpaced when staying on well for second and 2,25 lengths off Majestic Mambo in the Sea Cottage Stakes. He could be better over further.
Puget Sound was well beaten in the Dingaans and Ready To Run Cup and has plenty of catching up to do in this line-up.
Much written about two-time winner Pietro Mascagni is the fourth member of the MDK quartet. He was also comprehensively outplayed – admittedly with a possible excuse – in the Dingaans, and stayed on tamely 4 lengths behind Surcharge in the Tony Ruffel Stakes. He has a wide draw to overcome and has some leeway to make up.
Wonderwall – tough task here
Sean Tarry’s Wonderwall ran a top class fifth in the Cape Guineas when just over 2 lengths behind Tap O’Noth. He was not persevered with in the Diadem at his final Cape start, but bounced back with a decent 1,60 length third to Surcharge in the Tony Ruffel. He meets Surcharge on 2kgs worse terms here so won’t have it his own way – and also has to overcome a wide draw.
Mike Azzie has two promising youngsters in the field in the lightly raced Greek Fire and Ideal Secret. Greek Fire has won two of his three starts and beat the very decent older Glider Pilot giving him weight last time out. The last time he was beaten, he gave 5,5 kgs to Pietro Mascagni and he can reverse the 1,50 length deficit there with the De Kock runner.
Ideal Secret looks well held by Surcharge who gave him 4 kgs and a 4 length beating in the Tony Ruffel Stakes last time out. A son of Ideal World, he will strip fit and rates a place prospect at his best.
Vacquero comes into the reckoning here on his smart third just 1,25 lengths behind Monks Hood in the Dingaans. He travelled to Cape Town for the CTS Mile in January where he never showed when 7 lengths off Undercover Agent. If fully recovered from his travel rigours, he is worthy of a quartet inclusion at best.
Cash Time is held by Big Bear on his Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup unplaced run but has found good form with two handicap wins over the Vaal 2000m at his last two starts. The son of Gimmethegreenlight won his maiden over the Turffontein mile, but looks to be more effective over slightly further.
Third of the Sean Tarry trio, Silver God was well beaten in all of the Graham Beck Stakes, the Dingaans and the Sea Cottage Stakes and looks well held by De Kock’s Noble Secret on his last start at the Vaal early last month.
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State Trooper was beaten over 7 lengths by Surcharge in the Tony Ruffel Stakes and has to take the Pettigrew charge on with a 4kg premium. That makes his task very difficult.
Second of the Paul Peter duo, Alssakhra ran an ordinary prep race in an MR 82 Handicap at the Vaal last Thursday. The son of Seventh Rock looks well held and is probably in to ensure a decent pace for stablemate, Majestic Mambo.
Big Bear needs to come out fighting fit to overcome his draw and put his Dingaans run behind him. Monks Hood, Surcharge and Majestic Mambo look the obvious trio to do the chasing. And it would be folly to disregard Mike de Kock’s Noble Secret. It should be a classic!
