Mike de Kock’s Graham Beck Stakes winner Malmoos overcame the rigours of the long road trip from Randjesfontein to Milnerton to maintain his unbeaten record in four starts record, in the process registering a good Cape Guineas prep, to win the R175 000 Avontuur Estate Gr2 Concorde Cup at a sunny Kenilworth on Saturday.
Luke Ferarris steers Malmoos to victory ahead of Linebacker (Sandile Mbhele) in the Gr2 feature (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
A race that was known as the Selangor Cup up to 2017, and historically dominated by the powerful local yards, the rampant Malmoos bucked the trend in the famous blue and white silks of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoun to win well under SA Champion Apprentice, Luke Ferraris.
Ferraris would have gained dual enjoyment from the victory as he is sponsored by Avontuur, who have made a welcome, albeit low-key, return to Cape feature race sponsorship.
A colt described as ‘the real deal’ by his trainer, Malmoos was the second feature odds-on shot to score on the trot, and won more easily than his half length margin would suggest.
The son of Captain Al clocked 97,69 secs for the mile and had the Marshall Cape Classic placed duo of Linebacker (12-1) and Rascallion (11-2) in his wake.
Team de Kock celebrate (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Dean Kannemeyer’s Silvano’s Timer (rated 88 and priced at 16-1) ran a decent fourth and 2,25 lengths off the winner after staying on up the straight.
Bred on the same Captain Al/Fort Wood cross as Gr1 winners Captain America and William Longsword, the Varsfontein-bred Malmoos is by Captain Al (Al Mufti) out of the Spook Express Handicap winner Justthewayyouare, a half-sister to Varsfontein’s boom sire Master Of My Fate.
The second top lot at R4,4 million off the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, Malmoos has now earned R272 100.
