Journalist: David Thiselton – Gold Circle Publishing
The Mike Miller-trained Lizarre, who finished third in the Grade 1 Daily News over 2000m, has joined the Mike de Kock yard for the remainder of the season after being sold to a client of Singapore-based Pat Shaw.
De Kock said that Lizarre would skip Saturday's Grade 2 Gold Circle Derby over 2400m at Clairwood in favour of a Pinnacle Plate event on July 11 before running in the Vodacom Durban July on July 31.
He would then leave for Singapore.
De Kock also confirmed Mother Russia’s scratching from this year’s Vodacom Durban July.
"I went against everything I usually do and gave her one run too many," he said. "She has had a very tough season and deserves a rest."
De Kock has a very strong hand in Clairwood's Champions Cup racemeeting on Saturday and is expecting a good day.
"Our horses are all very well at the moment," he said.
Besides his double hand with Bold Silvano and Rudra in the big one of the day, he also contests all four of the other features on the card.
In the Grade 1 Golden Horseshoe de Kock runs Kavanagh, Zanzamar, Perana and Up And Running.
He said, "If I had to stick my neck out the one I would side with would be Kavanagh. I think he will be better around the turn. I'm very happy with Zanzamar though and there wouldn't be much between him and Kavanagh. I think Perana might find this trip a little sharp. Up And Running ran well against older horses last time and could still be anything."
In the Grade 1 Golden Slipper over 1450m he has the Galileo filly Mahbooba and the small Argentinean-bred filly, Empire Rose.
"There is not much between them," said de Kock. "Empire Rose has more pace of the pair. Mahbooba will be a ten furlong horse, but has a very good turn of foot."
In the Grade 2 Gold Circle Derby over 2400m he runs the current July favourite, Irish Flame, who has proved himself top class, winning both the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m at Turffontein and the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 at Greyville. He will be hard to beat.
"He is very happy at the moment," said de Kock. "He looks after himself at home and doesn't show too much in his work. This will be more his trip than the 2000m of the Daily News."
He also runs Happy Valley, who has won twice at Clairwood, and Safwan.
"Happy Valley is a different horse since gelding and will put his disappointing Jo'burg form behind him. Safwan is a good horse on his day but it’s difficult to work out when that day will be."
In the Grade 2 Gold Circle Oaks over 2450m, de Kock has Flirtation, Equiparada, Here To Win and Sweetie Pie.
"Flirtation is the fittest I've ever had her. She and Equiparada are looking for this sort of trip. Equiparada suffered a slight setback in training before the Woolavington and was not given the greatest of rides. She had to come from too far back. I thought her win against older horses last time was a very good win. Here To Win might prefer shorter than this having only managed fourth in the SA Oaks, but on the other hand she might not have enjoyed the soft ground on that day. Sweetie Pie has to prove she stays this trip."
All three of Equiparada, Flirtation and Here To Win are still in the July at this stage, with Equiparada quoted at 200-1 and the other pair on 500-1.
They might have to win on Saturday to get into the final field, although the entry list is now beginning to cut up.
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