The Mike de Kock yard have revealed Hawwaam was sent back to Randjesfontein after the Sun Met and has stayed in work.

Meanwhile, they are preparing their contenders for the Grade 1 SA Classic and Grade 1 Wigerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, both to be run over 1800m at Turffontein this Saturday.

Hawwaam’s ultimate goal is an overseas campaign but it was decided by the connections that rather than subject him to a long an arduous journey straight after his Met run they would wait until after the EU Audit on African Horse Sickness, which is due to take place this year, to see whether there would then become the advantage of a shorter route in the foreseeable future.

Hawwaam has been entered in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge, which he won with consummate ease last year, and his route into that race will either be through the Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes or a Pinnacle Stakes event.

The yard run Frosted Gold and Marshall in the SA Classic.
Matthew de Kock said, “They are both very well, we are very happy, but they have the Tarry duo to beat.”

Marshall will be the one best suited to this trip on pedigree and running style. This big Vercingetorix gelding is held in high regard but to date that is based mainly on his exceptional homework. Matthew said this horse had his problems and was not straightforward and perhaps that was the reason he was yet to bring his homework to the course to its full extent. However, if he does put his best foot forward he will be a big runner.

Matthew said Frosted Gold was a genuine horse who was loaded with ability and always tried his hardest. He has hardly put a foot wrong. He agreed this New Zealand-bred by All Too Hard had a stamina question mark but was quick to add that Sean Tarry’s stalwarts Shango and Ikigai did too.

Shango, who beat Frosted Gold going away in the Dingaans over a mile, is by sprinter Captain Of All out of a Jet Master mare who won from 1200-1400m. However, he runs as if he will stay further.

Conversely, Ikigai is by Vercingetorix out of an Al Muft mare who won over 1600m, which suggests he should stay 1800m, but he has a plenty of speed which creates the stamina doubt.

The De Kock yard have an interesting runner in the SA Fillies Classic in Virtuosa.

Matthew said, “She turns it on very quickly and hit the front a long way out in the Fillies Guineas. We will have to ride her very patiently this time.”

She is by Visionaire out of the De Kock-trained Checcetti, who won the Grade 2 Gerald Rosenberg over 2000m, so on pedigree she should stay the trip although she finished unplaced in her only attempt at 1800m to date.

By David Thiselton