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Betway Ambassador Mike de Kock brings four runners to the track at Scottsville this Sunday and one to
Greyville on Monday. The stable’s runners are well within themselves and he’s expecting decent runs from all.
Perhaps his best of the five, Mike assessed, is two-year-old filly Ready To Fly, who goes to post in Race 1 over 1400m on the Polytrack on Monday for veteran sports presenter Neil Andrews and his Benmag Brown Racing Syndicate.
On paper, Ready To Fly can expect opposition from three other recent Polytrack winners, in particular Glen Kotzen’s filly My Cherie Amour, who was rumoured unbeatable before getting a bump and becoming unsettled in the last race on Durban July day recently.
Mike said: “I’d say Ready To Fly is my best winning chance over the next few days. There was a lot to like about her Maiden win at this course and distance last month and she’s come on a bit. She’ll be up there from a good draw, I’d love to see her follow up for Benmag, who has 24 members in their partnership and love their racing.”
On Sunday, Winter Pearl (Race 2), should go close. He returned from an injury-enforced break for a fourth place over 1000m a fortnight ago and Mike commented: “Winter Pearl has definitely improved after his comeback run. He is overdue his first win, it could come here, though there are a few unraced two-year-olds in the race, unknown quantities.”
Fire Lord (Race 4 – 1400m) was another to come off a rest – he almost won when stepped out again at Turffontein last week and Mike said: “This comes a bit soon after his run last Thursday but he took it well and is in good nick. This is the right race for him, he has a handy draw so we’ll take our chances.”
Lightly-raced Sequoia (Race 6 -1400m) has dropped steadily in the merit ratings to a mark of 75 and he will contest his third run after being gelded. “He’s not quite at the top of his game yet but he is getting there and should run well. A place chance I’d say.”
The International Racing Club’s Humdinger (Race 7 – 1500m) has been a little costly to follow, a beaten favourite twice before her own short rest and Mike noted: “She has done really well with a little freshening up. This is a Graduation Plate and it looks quite competitive but I believe she’s the one to beat. She’s filled out nicely in her time off and I’ve always thought she’s a nice filly. We’re hoping she can start putting things together now.”
The weekend’s feature race action is centred at Kenilworth, where the G3 Final Fling Stakes (1800m) and the G3 Western Province Nomads Champagne Stakes over 1200m are the topliners.
A string of high-level places and the highest rating in the race will probably sway most punters the way of Justin Snaith’s filly Rain In Newmarket, but Andre Nel’s classy filly Young Love poses a danger. On the upgrade, she is capable of settling and firing from off the pace. She is versatile too and on weight-for-age terms could well prove to be the best filly in the race.
Nel’s Fusilade is one to consider in the Champagne Stakes, but the advantage here lies with Snaith, whose smart five-time winner Major Attraction looks well in at weight-for-age and can be relied upon to give of her best.
Ascot’s seven-race card is headlined by the weekend’s international highlight, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes, a 2400m Group 1 event that has long been one of the most anticipated annual events of the British horseracing calendar.
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