Champions Day: Runner comments

De Kock Racing is well represented on Champions Day at Turffontein Saturday and, aside from their runners in the two Grade 1 classics, there is significant public interest in a R5-million colt coming to the racetrack for his debut.

Lucky Fish ambassadors, Mike and Mathew de Kock, will saddle runners in eight of the 12 races on a bumper card, with dual Grade 1 winner Jan Van Goyen returning to action after his Cape campaign in Race 7, the Grade 1 HJC World Pool Classic over 1800m.

Mathew commented: “This a strong renewal. We have four nice runners, but we are respectful of the opposition.

“Jan Van Goyen is in good order and we’re very happy with him. He’s travelled back from Cape Town and had a little rest, it’s never easy to regather and prepare for a race of this nature, but he hasn’t put a foot wrong, There are question marks about all four of our runners as not one of them have raced over 1800m. The wet track also comes into play, but Jan Van Goyen is the horse to beat on paper, he has the highest rating and we hope he can put in that kind of performance.”

He discussed the other SA Classic runners: “Splittheights is full of confidence after his two feature wins, and his prep into this race has been faultless. He won his last two hitting the line strongly, so we believe he’ll be fine over 1800m and we look forward to seeing how he goes.

“One Eye on Vegas has also had an awesome prep. We were a bit doubtful of him seeing out the mile in the Guineas but he ran through well. He’s a pretty straight forward horse and will be doing his best.

“Yippee Kiyay also enjoyed a great preparation. He went to the front in the Guineas and stuck on well. We’re hoping he can give another honest account over 1800m, we believe he will.”

Detailed Forecast starts the day for the yard in Race 1 over 1160m, and she’s fancied to finish in the money. Mat said: “We changed tactics last time, she was held up in the running and finished second. We’ll be employing similar tactics and hoping she can run at them late. She has a place chance.”

Hollywood Racing’s Cool Gambler makes his first appearance in Race 2 over 1160m. Mat described him as “almost a splitting image of Hawwaam” and added: “He is a nice type of horse with the same characteristics. Like Hawwaam he is also aggressive in his training. He’s ultimately going to want 2000m, but we’ve elected to start him off in a sprint to help him with his mannerisms. He will learn a lot from the experience. He certainly can run over the top of them late, but we are under no illusions - the 1160m is on the sharp side. We want to see him finishing the race of well, we’ll be happy if he can run in the first three or four and show us promise. He is no good thing.

“Stablemate Green Machine is also a horse that needs further. He was gelded recently and is much better for that, but he too is having a warm-up sprint before we step him up to further. Like Cool Gambler, we’d like to see him running on well.”

Next up, the smart-looking debut winner World Attraction in Race 3, the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m. “He’s had a nice preparation, he has progressed well after his win. The formline from his victory seems to be working out quite nicely with The Bronx Bull scoring at the Vaal on Thursday. Our colt takes a step up into tougher company, there is a two-time winning filly in the race, and a few others. It’s a good test, but we look forward to the challenge.”

Staggerwing contests Race 4, the Listed Wilgerbosdrift Ruffian Stakes over 1000m. “She has done well, second in both runs so far and there was an impressive win at the Vaal this week from the third horse, in her in her last start.  We’re happy with Staggerwing and we’re running her here because she gets 3kg better from fillies who have won, including Secretary Bird who beat us last time. We’re hoping to turn the tables and more importantly to get some black type for her.”

In Race 6, the Wilgerbosdrift SA Classic over 1800m, Drumnadrochit will enjoy the 1800m and could play a role. “She was beaten five lengths by Hazy Dazy in the Guineas and she is set to improve on that margin over the extra 200m. This is a hard race for her to win, Hazy Dazy looks hard to beat. We’re looking for an improved run from Guineas to Classic, heading into her mission, the SA Oaks.”

Speedy Constellation wasn’t disgraced against the country’s leading sprinters in January’s Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship. He’s not out of it in Race 9, the Grade 3 TAB JJ The Jet Plane Stakes over 1000m. Mat assessed: “As with Jan Van Goyen, he’s had to regather following his Cape trip, but he is also doing very well. We’re hoping he can have a good prep for the Computaform Sprint. This is a strong race, he will have to put his best foot forward to win it.”

The day concludes with Destiny Of Fire, Race 11 over 1400m. “She had a rest after her last run and really enjoyed that. She seems to be back to her best at home, showing the kind of work she showed when she was racing well and won. We’re quietly confident she can be competitive and she looks value at her current price.”