Brett Crawford has made a fine start to his Champions Season campaign and has more chance of success with former Selangor Cup winner De Kock in the Betting World 1900 on Friday night at Greyville.

Crawford’s assistant Barry Donnelly is taking care of the string at Summerveld and the horses have been delivered for their early Champions Season targets in fine condition.

Donnelly said, “As was the case with two of our other recent winners (Alexis and Maybe Yes), De Kock was short of match practice for his first KZN race and has come on plenty for the run.”

The 98-merit rated Dynasty gelding was a little bit keen early over 1600m at Scottsville last week, before settling into rhythm and staying on well for a 1,75 length fourth, despite carrying topweight in the competitive MR 98 Handicap.

He showed his class as a three-year-old last season when beating the subsequent Equus Horse Of The Year Legislate by 0,4 lengths in the Selangor Cup over 1600m. He displayed a tremendous turn of foot in that race and that asset is an essential weapon at Greyville.

However, he subsequently fractured his near fore knee in the Grand Parade Cape Guineas.

He made a successful comeback from the injury last September by winning easily over 1000m. However, some felt that there was cause for alarm when he ran below par in three subsequent sprints, which included two Gr 2 events.

However, Donnelly explained, “Most top horses can win over sprint trips when coming back fresh. He won so well in that first sprint that we decided to try him again but his next two runs simply proved that he wants at least a mile. So we gelded him and brought him back (the third of the below par sprint runs in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes happened subsequently to the gelding).”

Donnelly confirmed that De Kock was over the injury and was sound.

He could not see the bay four-year-old gelding having a problem with the 1900m trip on Friday night and rated him as having a winning chance. On pedigree his female line is full of speed but the influence of his Vodacom Durban July-winning sire Dynasty will help him see out the trip.

He is drawn fairly well in seven in the 16 horse field and will have his final breeze up tomorrow morning (Wednesday).

By David Thiselton

Picture: De Kock (Liesl King)