Rudra - 2008 Gr1 Summer Cup winner
Three graded races, as well as two listed events top the bill at Turffontein this Saturday. The highest rated runners contest the Gr2 Colorado King Stakes where six of the eleven runners are saddled by champion trainer Mike De Kock, writes Steve Furnish.
The best weighted of Mike’s sextet is the veteran Rudra. A winner of the prestigious Gr1 Summer Cup back in 2008, this son of Parade Leader has always been up there with the very best. Sparingly raced during the course of 2011, Rudra might have appeared to be past his best having only managed to find the winner’s enclosure once when well weighted in a pinnacle event, but that by no means tells the full story. He was drawn widest of the twenty when running on stoutly to take third position behind Dancewiththedevil in this season’s Summer Cup in his final outing of last year and he showed his well being in no uncertain terms in his first outing of 2012 when again beaten by the champion mare Dancewiththedevil in the Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes last week. Equally effective in soft going, the 7yo Rudra ran up to his very best rating in our book when again behind Dancewiththedevil last time out and now back over the trip on which he gained his most famous win, he has to be a very serious runner here.
Safwan
With five of the jockeys aboard Mike’s horses regularly riding for the stable, it’s not easy to determine the stable elect, but with Anthony Delpech on aboard, many will look towards Safwan. This son of Encosta De Lago won the Greyville 1900 back in May and has earlier at that circuit won over today’s distance. He put in a fair effort when fifth on his return from an eight month layoff in the listed Drum Star Handicap last month and is sure to have come on for that run. He’s not been the quickest into stride in his most recent outings though and out at the weights to boot here, he won’t find this easy.
Galileo’s Destiny
Formerly with Charles Laird, the 4yo Galileo’s Destiny was up there with the best of his generation as a 3yo last season. Indeed, not only was he placed in the Dingaans and the Gauteng Guineas, but he also made the frame in both the SA Classic and the Gauteng Derby. He was off the track for seven months after running a disappointing race in the Durban July, but he did then show his well being when running on steadily to finish fifth to his new stable companion Kavanagh on his return to action in February. Galileo’s Destiny has his third run after the rest here and interestingly, he is reunited with champion jockey Anton Marcus for the first time since changing stables.
Meadow Magic
The most lightly raced runner in the field, Meadow Magic has been coming along nicely since relocating from the Eastern Cape. His ratings having been showing improvement with each step up in distance and he did run his best race to date when only picked off late in the listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m last time out. This son of Mogok had three of today’s rivals behind him in that event and further improvement could well be forthcoming now trying 2000m for the first time. This is not a handicap though, and now 4kg worse off at the weights with the likes of Seal and Galanthus, he won’t find it easy to confirm that form.
Flirtation - 2010 the Summer Cup winner
Flirtation
Another former winner of the Summer Cup representing Mike’s stable here is the Silvano mare Flirtation. Freely available at 25/1 on that memorable day back Nov’10, Flirtation fairly flew over the final 400m and got up in the very last stride to deny her strongly fancied stable companion Mother Russia. Her form in the main has been a little in and out since then, but she does come in to this race on the back of two good seconds against her own sex. She should be at her peak having her third outing after a short break, but she is now taking on the boys, and out at the weights with most, she too has a stiff task.
Captain’s Wild
After winning five of his first eight outings, Captain’s Wild then ran a very good second in the Gr1 Champions Challenge over today’s course and distance, and amongst those behind him that day were both Rudra and Dancewiththedevil. He had excuses having been drawn wide in the Champions Cup at Clairwood in his next outing, but with no excuses tendered he did then run unsighted in the Durban July. His only outing since was when again making no show in the Natal Gold Cup at the end of July. This son of Captain Al will more than likely need the run here, but it will be interesting to see how he goes.
Seal
The runner with the highest merit rating in the race is the Silvano colt Seal. Gavin Van Zyl’s charge progressed nicely as a 3yo last season, but it was still a bit of a surprise when he landed the Gr1 Gauteng Derby in April. He was reported as not striding out when finishing last of twenty in the Summer Cup in November, but since then he has bounced right back to best. Indeed, he ran on well when beating Galanthus under the superheavyweight burden of 62,5kg in the listed Wolf Power Handicap in his penultimate outing and he again had that one behind him when fourth under 64kg in the Drum Star last time out. Seal is very well treated at the weights with most here, expect another big run.
House Of Wax
Another who must have claims is Geoff Woodruff’s House Of Wax. A winner of three of his last six outings, this son of Count Dubois has shown considerable improvement in recent months. He caught the eye when finishing best of all behind Empenoso Henn in Handicap company in December and after making no show when drawn wide in the Wolf Power, he ran his best race to date when winning the Drum Star. House Of Wax is now worse off at the weights with a number of the runners that ran in the Drum Star here, but he is clearly still improving and on that alone must have a shout.
English Garden
English Garden
The only raider from out of town is the Mike Bass trained English Garden. After showing flashes of real ability as a juvenile back in 2010, this son of Camden Park came to hand in no uncertain terms when visiting Gauteng last season. Indeed, he won the prestigious Gr1 SA Classic. English Garden ran on best of all in that event and amongst those behind him were the Gauteng Guineas winner Link Man and Galileo’s Destiny. Since finishing third in the Durban July at the end of last season though, English Garden has finished down field in all three starts and he did break a bloodvessel last time out. He would undoubtedly be a serious runner here is all now well. Watch the betting.
Galanthus
Although Tyrone Zackey’s charge has never been the most consistent of performers, he is nonetheless close to the best of his generation as his third placing in the 2009 Dingaans will attest. He was finishing best of all when a runner up to Seal in the listed Wolf Power Handicap in February and he is now 1,5kg better off at the weights with that one. Galanthus has a pull at the weights with all except Rudra here. If at his best he should be right there.
Reconcile
The 6yo daughter of Silvano was in command of a very nice turn of foot earlier in her career and flattered only to deceive in top graded events on several occasions. Her three latest successes have all been gained over further than they race here though, and seemingly past her best, she has a very stiff task now out at the weights against the boys here.
About The Pace
With no out and out frontrunners in the field there is a serious chance that this race will develop into a 600m sprint. Globetrotter Mike De Kock has faced this situation on many occasions in the past though and with six of the eleven runners coming out of his stable one would expect that provisions will have been made. One would normally look for up and coming horses to win these types of events, and there are several here that fit the bill. The veteran Rudra is very well weighted here though and currently at the top of his game and racing over a trip on which he won the Summer Cup, he could relive past glories.
