Mike de Kock has propelled himself into a lead of almost R2-million on the trainers’ championship log by reeling in the big feature races during the Cape summer season.
On Saturday the likeable Gauteng-based conditioner makes a three-pronged assault on the R1-million J&B Met over 2 000m at Kenilworth that is likely to strike fear into the hearts of the opposition.
De Kock saddles ruling favourite Escoleta Fitz (3-1), rejuvenated seven-year-old Summer Cup winner Ingleside (16-1) and his 2000 Met winner Badger’s Coast (25-1).
Argentinian-bred Escoleta Fitz comes into the race with five wins from as many runs recently and is going from strength to strength. The only representative of her sex in the event, she demolished the country’s best fillies in the weight-for-age Paddock Stakes in her most recent start, leaving Fillies Guineas winner Sport’s Chestnut trailing by 3,25 lengths at the finish.
The manner of that win suggests Escoleta can do even better and with bottom weight she could provide experienced lightweight jockey Brett Smith with another big win.
Like the filly, Ingleside has been testimony to his trainer’s ability, reeling off four wins in the Champion’s Cup, the Skeaping, the Elevation and the Summer Cup before running 1,8 lengths eighth behind July winner Trademark in the Queen’s Plate. That last defeat was over a mile, though, and Ingleside has undoubtedly made the trip to the Cape with the Met as his main target. Kevin Shea, who has partnered the son of Dolpour in all his big-race victories, again has the ride.
Badger’s Coast was runner-up to his stable companion in the Summer Cup and it speaks volumes about the chances of the other two that this multiple grade 1 winner comes in as only the stable’s third string.
Geoff Woodruff’s old warrior El Picha, the top stakes earner in the race, has possibly his final tilt at the only glamour race he has failed to win. He was runner-up in 2000 and fourth to Bunter Barlow last year.
The game Argentinian-bred had his first run on New Year’s Day since being forced by injury to miss his historic hat-trick attempt in the July. He dead-heated with Polo Classic in the London News Stakes but was relegated to second for causing interference.
Polo Classic now meets El Picha at a significant 5kg better terms and should confirm the form, even considering that the older horse will come on with the run after his lay-off. Polo is, in fact, very well in at the weights, boasts excellent recent form and could give the favourite the most to do.
A change of luck is way overdue for Dean Kannemeyer’s Free My Heart. His form shows two seconds in his past three starts and both should have been victories. In the Champions Cup he was badly hampered before flying up just too late to prevent the first leg of Ingleside’s winning streak. In the Queen’s Plate, he finished like a train from last to gift the race to Trademark. Piere Strydom again has the ride and will be out to make amends.
The consistent Trademark has rather more to do than he had when winning the July and the Queen’s Plate and the same applies to his stable companion and last year’s winner Bunter Barlow.
Justin Snaith’s Badge Of Honour has good form and might be a lurker for the places if the pace is slow. He has yet to convince that he stays this far, though.
Cape Derby winners often do well in the Met (run over the same course and distance) but the connections of both of The Sheik and Grande Jete would probably be happy with a place cheque.
The improving Escoleta Fitz is selected to strike a blow for her sex at the expense of stable companion Ingleside and Polo Classic, with Free My Heart, Badger’s Coast and El Picha fighting out the minor placing.
Kenilworth best bets: Southbound Again (race 1); Young Warrior (race 3); Dance Of Diamonds (race 5); Boston Globe (race 7) Gosforth Park: Pride (race 3); Spoil Sport (race 4); Kilkington (race 6); Al Nitak (race 7) Newmarket: Golden Dominion (race 4); Simply Salmon (race 7)