Described as a ‘solid rock of a horse’ by champion trainer Mike De Kock, the Australian-bred Mount Pleasant got the better of his stablemate Najem Suhail to win the R150 000 World Sports Betting Gr2 SA Nursery at Turffontein on Saturday.
In the second consecutive Turffontein Saturday feature to be dominated by an exacta for the winning yard, De Kock’s debut-winning Melbourne Sale duo had the race to themselves, finishing over three lengths ahead of the third placed Nourbese.
Callan Murray has Mount Pleasant n control as he is chased by stablemate Najem Suhail (Lyle Hewitson)
Ridden by De Kock stable rider, Ridgemont Highlands-sponsored Callan Murray, Mount Pleasant (21-10) powered home to beat the pricier Najem Suhail (3-1) with Lyle Hewitson in the saddle, by a length in a time of 67,52 secs.
It was a second consecutive victory in the race for owner Dave Maclean, who banked the first cheque last year with the New Zealand-bred Frosted Gold.
Both horses, but ‘definitely the runner-up’, in the words of Mike de Kock, are destined for export.
An A$90,000 Inglis Premier purchase – his second placed stablemate cost A$10 000 more on the same platform – the winner, from the draft of Two Bays Farm , was purchased by Form Bloodstock.
He is a half-brother to stakes-placed Quantum Mechanic and should enjoy a mile.
Bred by Makybe, the smart victor is the fourth winner from Life in a Metro, a winning three-quarter sister by Fasnet Rock to GrI winners Absolutely and Abbey Marie.
When winning on debut, Mount Pleasant was the sixth winner for his Golden Slipper winning sire Vancouver and was also his first runner in South Africa.
A winner of 2 from 2, Mount Pleasant has banked R126 000.
