Final Field 1900

Mike de Kock has two runners in the Grade 2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville Racecourse tomorrow evening and also has three runners in the fifth race, a Pinnacle Stakes event that boasts a Grade 1 quality line up.


Anthony Delpech rides Rock Cocktail in the 1900, so he looks to be the stable choice. This Australian-bred won an 1 800m Handicap at Clairwood last Wednesday in good style, getting the better of a well-regarded sort in King Neptune.


In normal circumstances there would be a concern that the 1900 had come too soon after that race. However, De Kock said Rock Cocktail had come out of that race well and added, “He’s a tough horse, that’s why I’m running him again.”


Rock Cocktail is drawn perfectly in barrier two and looks likely to progress beyond his merit rating of 90, so it would be no surprise to see him in the thick of things.
Furthermore, De Kock said after his latest win that he could well supplement Rock Cocktail for the Vodacom Durban July if he ran well in the 1900.


De Kock’s other runner is last year’s Woolavington 2000 winner, Viva Maria, who is merit rated 102 but is widely drawn which is not ideal for her front-running style.
In her Champions Season pipe-opener she finished one from last in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes over a too sharp 1 400m. De Kock said, “She’s coming right, but is not at her best yet.”


De Kock runs Mujaarib, Patriotic Rebel and Silent Partner in the Pinnacle Stakes event over 1 400m that features reigning Equus Horse Of The Year Variety Club as well as last year’s July winner Pomodoro.


He said that both Mujaarib and Patriotic Rebel would need their runs.


Mujaarib has disappointed when fancied in both the Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup and the Gr 1 President’s Champion Challenge, both over the tough Turffontein 2 000m.
“We’ve tried him twice over that trip and he definitely doesn’t stay,” said De Kock about the Australian-bred by Nadeem.


Patriotic Rebel finished a 1,1 length fourth in his last start in the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby and this will be his first run for the De Kock yard.


De Kock said about the three-year-old Stronghold gelding, “He’s been with us for about two or three months and is a nice horse. But we laid off him after gelding, so he will need the run quite badly.”


Silent Partner is better off at the weights with Patriotic Rebel but has a tough task with the top horses in the race. However, De Kock said, “He is fairly fit and should run well.”

David Thiselton

Sean Tarry will attempt to repeat his 2011 win in the Grade 2 Betting World 1900 tomorrow night at Greyville and has a strong hand with E-Jet, General Sherman and Gold Onyx.



He also runs the reigning Vodacom Durban July Champion Pomodoro in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1400m that has attracted a Grade 1 standard field, including the Equus Horse Of The Year Variety Club.



Tarry’s Golden Chariot dead-heated with the Mike de Kock-trained Safwan in the Betting World 1900 two years ago.



Tarry is challenging the great trainer for the National Trainer’s title this year and is less than R500,000 behind in stakes earnings, so every big race will have an extra edge to it until the season ends on July 31.



E-Jet, a four-year-old gelding by Jet Master, has always been held in high regard and looked to be coming into his own this season until running a bit of a disappointing fifth in the Grade 1 President’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein last time out.



He hit the front a long way from home from a handy position, but that is similar to his usual style so can’t really be offered as an excuse.



However, tomorrow night he will have an easier task as he is the joint best-weighted male in the race together with his stablemate Gold Onyx.



They are 1,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse in the race, the De Kock-trained filly Viva Maria.



However, De Kock said that Viva Maria would not yet be at her best in her second run since returning from the Cape.



Tarry said, “It’s a prep run for the July for E-Jet, but he came out of the Champions Challenge well and will run well. I’m not too worried about him qualifying for the July as a couple of those above us on the log will probably come out. He won a Grade 2 (Colorado King Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein) and has always run well in Grade 1s so should get in. If I’m forced to run him again, I will have to. Otherwise, this will be his last start before the July.”



E-Jet is very well drawn in four, particularly considering his handy racing style, and will be ridden by Anton Marcus, a further bonus to his chances.



Gold Onyx has had two starts in KZN this year in Pinnacle Stakes events over 1450m and 1600m in march and April respectively.



He ran fair races in both, considering he needed the runs.



Tarry said, “A lot of people have forgotten about him because of his two ordinary runs after last year’s July. But he has had a good prep, loves Greyville and is well drawn, so good luck to those who ignore him.”



The five-year-old Black Minnaloushe gelding is drawn in pole position and has won twice and finished second once in just four attempts at this course and distance.



In last year’s 1900, he finished a fair seventh, considering he jumped from a wide draw.



He will be ridden tomorrow by Gavin Lerena.



General Sherman, a four-year-old Strike Smartly gelding, is an improving sort, with a fine turn of foot and won the Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m at Turffontein in good style in his last start in March.



That was his fifth win of the season and his first career start beyond 1600m.



Tarry said, “He’s progressive and his style of running will suit Greyville. He’s seen the course and there’s every reason for him to be a big runner, although he does have a bad draw.”



General Sherman is drawn in 14 and Raymond Danielson rides.



Pomodoro proved in his first two starts this season, impressive wins over 1200m and 1600m respectively, that he runs well fresh.



Tarry said, “He’s at about 75% so is going to need the run, but he’s a natural athlete and won’t disgrace himself. I’m not too worried about the other runners in the field, as long as he starts and finishes his race off well, I will be happy.”



Tarry’s two other runners on the card are Euterpe and Elusive Club in the seventh and ninth respectively and both must have chances.



The former ran well in her first start at this course recently and has another nice galloping weight, while the latter showed a return to form last time out.

David Thiselton

Justin Snaith runs the hard-knocking four-year-old Jet Master gelding Jet Explorer in the Grade 2 Betting World 1900 tomorrow night at Greyville and reckoned “a lot is going for him” in the race.



He said, “He is doing well in Durban and seems to be improving. He is well drawn and has a nice weight.”



One concern was that he doesn’t appear to have the immediate turn of foot that is suitable for the tight Greyville circuit.



However, Snaith said, “We could have him a bit handier and then he should be alright.”



Jet Explorer ran a 3,1 length fourth in the Grade 2 Peninsula handicap over 1800m at Kenilworth in January behind Hill Fifty Four, from whom he received 3kg.



He then ran a close third in a MR 100 Handicap on J&B Met day over 1600m.



In his first KZN start he finished a 3,25 length second to Territorial Waters over 1600m at Scottsville and will be 4kg better off with the latter tomorrow night.



In his last start he improved to finish just a head behind Tribal Dance in the Listed Sledgehammer Handicap over 1800m at Scottsville.



However, he will be 1kg worse off with the latter tomorrow night.



Sean Cormack will ride him from a great draw of three.



Snaith concluded, “He looks well and is doing well, although it’s a competitive field.”



Snaith runs True Gift in the second race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1600m, and said, “It’s hard to say how he will do as he’s never been to Greyville before.”