Talented. The Three Troikas winner King’s Temptress should enjoy the mile test
We are back in the Mike De Kock happy hunting season! With an unparalleled recent record in the R500 000 Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, we are probably tempting fate by not going with our champion trainer’s quartet for Saturday’s feature, now sponsored by one of his top patrons.
Horseracing has the habit of scripting its own fairytales with the aid of geniuses like Mike De Kock, and we could well be standing on the opening pages of yet another great story.
Dynasty
The undefeated Espumanti will carry the black and scarlet silks of the sponsors Wilgerbosdrift and Mike De Kock’s charge looks to have plenty in her favour. Established by Mary Slack in 1998, Wilgerbosdrift Stud sent their first draft to the National Yearling Sale in 1999 and from that time onwards they have produced stakes winners second to none.
In 2001 Wilgerbosdrift sent a handsome bay son of Fort Wood to the National Yearling Sale. Named Dynasty, the colt was knocked down to agent John Freeman for R475 000. He went on to be named Horse of the Year, before becoming one the country’s most successful and sought after stallions. And there are plenty of other major achievements.
For now we are appreciative of the involvement of another leading owner in a major race sponsorship.
The Tiara
This race is the first leg of the R3.25-million Triple Tiara, the fillies’ equivalent of the Triple Crown. The three legs of the Triple Tiara are run on the same days as the corresponding Triple Crown legs. The series comprises this race, the R1-million SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and the R750,000 SA Oaks over 2450m.
Mike De Kock is the right man for the job. His champion Igugu is the only filly who has succeeded in winning all three races since its inception in 1999. She won the Triple Tiara in 2011.
Moving Ahead. Sean Tarry’s Fire Wheel is ridden by Anton Marcus for the first time
Competitive
Sixteen fillies go to post on Saturday, and while Espumanti stands out, things may not be as cut and dried as they may seem. The one factor counting against the undefeated Espumanti could well be her withdrawal due to a respiratory disease from the Three Troikas three weeks ago.
That means that the daughter of Dansili has not run since her walk in the park on 19 January. While she has really beaten little of note, her aggregate winning margin of ten lengths at her first three starts from 110m to 1450m have spoken of plenty of exceptional ability and a tangible touch of genuine class.
This is her first test. There are three others in the De Kock attack, but admittedly of a more low key nature. Al Kindi has drawn out at 19 and is well held on her Fillies Mile effort, when showing up handy before fading for a seven lengths fifth to Cherry On The Top.
She did run on strongly in the Starling Stakes for a 5,25 length unplaced finish off her stablemate Festival Of Fire, so has the ability to run a double figure place here.
The familiar yellow and royal blue silks of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum are represented by Tayba and Aneefa. They are both well held on their respective Fillies Mile performances and should not trouble the higher rated contenders.
The Options
Who can beat De Kock? Ormond Ferraris’ Cherry On The Top is handicapped to win this race, but the talented Gr3 Fillies Mile winner has drawn poorly and was comprehensively whacked by King’s Temptress in the Three Troikas.
Cherry On The Top is however 5,5kgs better off with King’s Temptress and was reported to be in season after the Three Troikas.
Three Troikas
Kum Naidoo’s King’s Temptress has drawn five gates inside of Cherry On The Top, and was an impressive winner of the Three Troikas after an extended placed spell.
The daughter of King Of Kings could well prefer the extra 200m here, but will have to improve further to overcome the weight deficit. Anton Marcus has been engaged for Sean Tarry’s Fire Wheel, who will have the added benefit of a good draw to assist her cause.
The daughter of Black Minnaloushe was liberally used as a pacesetter against the males in the Sea Cottage Stakes, and ran a courageous half length third to the highly vaunted Alexandra Palace. If ridden with restraint, she could put in a very bold showing here.
Smart Sort. Negev only has to overcome her outside draw to have a big winning chance here
Sensational
Louis Goosen’s super Stronghold filly Negev has had only two outings since her sensational narrowly beaten second to Rock Of Arts in the Ready To Run Cup. She showed pace and stayed on well for third in the Fillies Mile when beaten three lengths by Cherry On The Top, and then came out flying after a short rest a fortnight ago.
In that Vaal 1400m run, Negev was beaten by a smart sort in Orator’s Daughter, and she will strip a lot fitter on Saturday. She is held in high regard by her connections and it would be thrilling to see the Summerhill Stud bred deliver the goods. Of the rest, there are some with good lower level achievements, who are as yet unexposed.
Power Of Recall
Geoff Woodruff and Bernard Fayd’herbe team up with the Silvano filly Do You Remember, who has won 2 of her 5 starts for owner Michael De Broglio. She is yet to be tested at this level, but has shown impressive ability and a turn of foot and may be much better than officially rated.
Show Time
Steven Janse Van Rensburg brings the sole Port Elizabeth raider Show Time from the Eastern Cape to test her mettle. The daughter of Tiger Dance has won 2 of her 3 starts, and while drawn awfully at 17, is an interesting inclusion. Robbie Sage’s undefeated Jet Belle has won her only two career starts in impressive fashion. She has drawn very wide at 18, and will have a mountain to climb.
The Victory Moon filly Luala has won her last two starts at a much lower level of competition, but with a 2 from 4 race win strike rate she is worth including in larger quartets. On pure handicapping though, she has a very optimistic outside chance.
The Outcome
Mike De Kock is the man for the big occasion and his recent record in this event says it all. Espumanti looks a special sort and is exposed to her first serious test here. She is well drawn and has a top jockey aboard. If she fluffs her lines there are a few that will be ready to swoop for the kill.
The likes of King’s Temptress, Negev, Fire Wheel and Cherry On The Top appear the most likely four to fight over the scraps. But this won’t be the first fairytale that Mike De Kock has directed.
