The lightly tried Dynasty gelding Noble Secret will be aimed at the R1 million Gr2 Gauteng Guineas on 3 March, after his good win in an MR 88 Handicap over a mile at the Vaal on Saturday.
Noble Secret cruises in to win his debut under Randall Simons (Pic – Mike De Kock Racing)
The Mike de Kock website reports that Noble Secret was gelded for temperament after finishing third in a 1200m sprint at his second outing in November. He won his debut, beating a weakfish field by 9,25 lengths.
The step up in ground at his third start under Randall Simons on Saturday delivered a good performance – the gelding lengthening well to win going away.
Noble Secret carries the famous blue and gold silks of longstanding owner Costa Livanos, whose last big winner came via the Silvano filly Flirtation in the 2010 Sansui Summer Cup. That memorable day her pilot Randall Simons got her to rally to beat Mother Russia and Rudi Rocks.
Simons was aboard again on Saturday as the soldier Livanos arrived on track with his wife Billy-Ann to lead the smart winner in.
Flashback! Randall Simons salutes as Flirtation beats Mother Russia in the 2010 Summer Cup (Pic – Gold Circle)
Mike de Kock commented: “There are two people in racing who deserve a star. Costa Livanos hasn’t owned a really top horse since Flirtation, and Chris Gerber’s Moutonshoek Stud are breeding good runners – they are due a true champion!”
A Moutonshoek-bred son of Dynasty, Noble Secret is out of the Al Mufti mare Arabian Secret, who was owned and raced by Mike de Kock. She hails from an old Birch Brothers family which numbers South Lake, Totally Bold, Classic Hero and Buckarina – horses who the champion trainer enjoyed plenty of success with.
Mike and Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock went to R700 000 to secure Noble Secret at the BSA National Yearling Sale of 2016.
The Gauteng Guineas is the first leg of the SA Triple Crown. Entries close at 11h00 on Monday 12 February.
