No big feature raceday passes without a Mike de Kock winner and it was the beautifully bred 2yo Janoobi who got one on the SA Classic Day board for the stable. The son of Silvano showed character to get up and win the R200 000 Gr3 Protea Stakes.
Janoobi (Antton Marcus) finds a good finish to win the Protea Stakes (Pic – JC Photos)
Anton Marcus had been aboard when Janoobi was backed into the red and won his Vaal maiden by 7 lengths in late February.
Lining up on Saturday in the seven strong field, he went off at 17-10 but looked under pressure a long way out as he failed to match the early pace of He’s A Var and the Spies filly, Seattle Singer.
Mike de Kock – trained the winner
The latter, still a maiden, was being talked about as a possible winner and had her supporters as she went off at 15-4.
With He’s A Var falling in a hole at the 200m, Seattle Singer rallied strongly and with a galloping weight on her back, she bounced back and looked a winner.
But under a relentless Anton Marcus ride, Janoobi finally found his best stride and came home best down the inside to hold Corne Spies’ consistent filly to a half length in a time of 64,31 secs.
Debut winner Flying Myth always looked under pressure but ran a fair race for third, ahead of Erasmus longshot Approval Mode, who edged his pacy and more fancied stablemate He’s A Var out of fourth.
Janoobi was bred by Maine Chance Farms and is a son of champion Silvano out of the unraced Rakeen mare, Shasta Daisy. The latter is a half-sister to top producer Scented Samantha.
The winner should probably be looking for 2000m and this 1100m stakes win may prove to have been a highly meritorious one when we reflect back and see where he goes in the 3yo classics next term.
Janoobi has won 2 of his 3 starts for 1 place and took his stakes earned to R191 250.
The colt who races in the famous blue and white of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum cost R1,2 million on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale.
_________
Gr3 Protea Stakes (SAf-Gr3)
Turffontein, South Africa, April 2, R200k, 1100m, turf, good, 1.04.31
1 – JANOOBI (SAF), 58.0, c 2, Silvano (GER) – Shasta Daisy (SAF) by Rakeen (USA). Owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum; Breeder Maine Chance; trainer MF de Kock; jockey A Marcus
2 – Seattle Singer (SAF), 52.5, b f 2, Sail From Seattle (USA) – Royal Drummer (SAF) by Kilconnel (USA)
3 – Flying Myth (SAF), 58.0, b c 2, Trippi (USA) – Mana Mou (SAF) by Captain Al (SAF)
Margins: 0.50, 2.60, 0.40
