Mike de Kock announced his plans for the Australian-bred daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar after the three-year-old had given him his first win in the Betting World-sponsored Grade 1, bravely holding off the sustained challenge of Captain Of All by the width of a Tote ticket in a time only 0.07 sec outside the course record.

He said: “She has very good acceleration and in the Southern Cross last time she led which was exactly the opposite to the way I wanted her ridden. I think the Computaform Sprint will be next followed by one or two races in Durban including the SA Fillies Sprint at Scottsville. I will have to talk nicely to Mary and see if we can then get her on a plane out of here.”

Mary Slack, who owns her in partnership with Michael Javett (joint-owner of the legendary Politician), didn’t seem quite so keen on the last bit and said: “I’m always nervous about running them again when they have done so well.”

It was announced over the public address that this was De Kock’s 100^th Grade 1 win but the actual total is 102. For a long time the trainer’s website omitted two in 2010 – Mother Russia’s Empress Club and Gluwein’s dead-heat in the Majorca – but the mistake has now been corrected.

Almost a third of those Group 1s were ridden by Weichong Marwing who led over two furlongs out, far sooner than he or de Kock wanted.

He explained: “I wanted to be one or two lengths off them and I thought Trip Tease would last longer but his speed wasn’t good enough for this filly. I had to open my deck of cards and allow my horse to use her action.”

Interestingly both he and Sean Cormack on the runner-up flashed past the post convinced that Dennis Drier’s 9-2 chance had beaten the favourite.

The strongly fancied Fly By Night could finish only a disappointing seventh and Mike Bass said: “She had an infection in a joint a week and a half ago. She had to go on antibiotics and I couldn’t work her or prepare her properly. Going down to the start I could see that she wasn’t comfortable on it.”

The stipes ordered veterinary examinations on Copper Parade (ninth) and Dressed In Cotton (last). The latter had a nasal discharge and coughed but nothing showed up with Copper Parade.

Normanz had his stalls cert withdrawn. He delayed the start by bursting through the gate and breaking his breastplate. He became restless when reloaded and lost four lengths.

Brutal Force recouped R500 000 of his R4.5 million purchase price by just fighting off Zambezi River in the Cape Thoroughbred Sales Stakes and will doubtless be relieved to be shot of the ‘most expensive horse’ millstone. But he might not be so happy to learn that further cuts are planned.

Joey Ramsden said: “He will definitely be gelded. I know it’s a shame but at 600kg he wouldn’t survive otherwise.”

Markus Jooste’s 4-1 winner was the third leg of a treble for Piere Strydom who also scored on Music App and Perini for Darryl Hodgson and Hassen Adams.

Pictures

1. Alboran Sea (right) holds on from Captain Of All – Cape Flying Championship (Liesl King)
2. Brutal Force (right) fights off Zambezi River (Liesl King)

The aggregate for Session One was R60,2 million, with an average of R620,619 and a median of R350,000.

Chief Operating Officer of CTS Adrian Todd was extremely pleased with the results achieved. “We knew we had a quality draft of horses and a solid local and international buying bench. We have achieved exceptional results during the first Session, which is a credit to the South African breeder and the South African thoroughbred.”

An ex school teacher from Thabazimbi, Du Toit currently owns a game farm in Rustenburg and was delighted that he managed to buy such an outstanding specimen. “ I am so pleased that we managed to get him. I am going to name him Tsunami and he will be trained here in Cape Town by top trainer Mike Bass.”

Candice Robinson, daughter of Mike Bass, who trains with her dad at their Milnerton stables, stated that they loved the colt and considered him the pick of the sale.  “He has a real classy look about him.  He walks well, has a lovely pedigree and he looks like a racehorse, even at this young age.”

Owner of Maine Chance Farms, Dr. Andreas Jacobs was delighted by the price achieved.  “With Silvano doing so well here, we decided to send Shina to South Africa, carrying a foal to Tiger Hill (IRE), on a Southern Hemisphere cover.  Lot 48 is her second foal to be born here. We were expecting a good price, but we never dreamt that he would shatter the South African record!”

Du Toit was back in action when he signed for Lot 79, the half sister to the outstanding three-year-old filly Cold As Ice, at R2.5 million.  The filly, by South African leading sire Trippi, will also join the Bass stable and Robinson was delighted to be getting her.  “She is a sister to a great filly and a beautiful mover.  I am so pleased that she will be joining us.”

Picture: Sale Topper – Lot 48 Cape Premier Yearling Sale 2015 (Liesl King)

Snaith said, “He galloped very well and gave Richard (Fourie) a good feel and he pulled up well. He then scoped clean so it is all good so far, but there is still a long way to go. Basically all will be good until something wrong happens. We know about the problems this time unlike before his last start.

“So we know now that he can run, but before he takes part we must know that he will be able to run well and have a winning chance. Therefore he must have a good workout next Tuesday and a good sprint up next Thursday and come out of both well. But it is the same for all of our horses. They must all pass those tests before being allowed to race.”

Legislate drifted out slightly to 5/2 with Betting World after yesterday’s gallop, while Futura is now a 2/1 shot and Louis The King is at 28/10.

Picture: Legislate (Snaith Racing)

Later, in the barrier draw ceremony he landed a favourable starting position.

Legislate was given a lead by Astro News in the gallop and showed good acceleration when asked the question at the top of the straight before striding out well all the way to the line.

He will now have to pass a veterinarian examination before being allowed to line up.

All fifteen of the contestants looked to be in good shape and did little wrong with the exception of Astro News, whose saddle slipped forward meaning he couldn’t be given the required assistance.

There were a number of eyecatchers, including the favourite Futura and third favourite Louis The King, who both looked in peak condition.

Jet Explorer always impresses with his long stride and there was no repeat of the shoe pull which injured him at the gallops last year.

Dynamic strode out particularly well and Gold Onyx worked very enthusiastically, defying his seven years of age.

Last year’s surprise third-placed Punta Arenas looked nice and relaxed and should be primed by race day.

Legislate’s much anticipated draw was pulled by part-owner Gaynor Rupert of Drakenstein Stud and she could not have asked for a better one than his barrier position of four.

Louis The King and Futura drew side by side in positions eight and nine respectively.

The luck of the draw will have an effect on the result and as the forecast predicts a North Westerly to Westerly wind, as opposed to the prevailing South Easterly headwind, the low draws could well be favourable.

Carry On Alice has travelled well from Johannesburg according to trainer Sean Tarry and as one with good cruising speed and a fine turn of foot, she will be right there from an ideal looking draw of six as she should be able to sit behind the speedy Normanz, who jumps from barrier five.

The Yvette Bremner-trained Port Elizabeth raider Copper Parade proved in last year’s Gr 1 Computaform Sprint that if able to stride freely behind a strong pace before unleashing his devastating finishing kick he is world class. He should get a fair pace tomorrow and Piere Strydom has reportedly said that the seven-year-old gelding has felt even faster this season than last. From a draw of seven he will have plenty of options.

Daring Dave has been prepared for this race from day one of the season and as a speedy sort who can kick on this trip will suit him down to the ground. His draw of one might be favourable on the day.

Alboran Sea has tremendous natural speed and is another capable of kicking on. The three-year-olds start coming into their own at this time of the year, so she will be a major threat from draw two if the low draws indeed turn out to be favourable.

Captain Of All will be cherry ripe having his third run after a rest and he should be able to use his early speed from draw nine to find a good position. He is capable of quickening from the front and is a big runner.

Trip Tease is a courageous horse who not only has the winning habit, having won nine of his last ten starts, but he is also suited to this minimum trip and he has a nice low draw.

Fly By Night beat Copper Parade in the Mercury Sprint over 1200m when producing a late burst. This tall mare has really come into her own and has the sort of uncomplicated action that makes her a reliable runner in the highest classes, but if low draws are favourable she might be in trouble from draw eleven.

Normanz is a speedy frontrunner who is able to sustain a good pace throughout when at his peak as he will be, but his Gr 1 win did come when carrying a light weight under handicap conditions.

Last year’s third-placed Tevez and his stablemate Castlethorpe would have preferred a headwind as they will be doing their best work late.

Asstar has proved himself capable of upsetting horses of this quality but is none too reliable.

Happy Forever is a handy runner who has run just behind the best but his draw of ten might be tough on the day.

Dressed In Cotton looks outgunned at the weights.

The selection is Carry On Alice to beat Copper Parade with Daring Dave, Alboran Sea and Captain Of All next best.

The draw might play a part in the R1million Cape Thoroughbred Sales Stakes over 1200m, but the classy Kingvoldt has an excellent record over this trip and his fantastic turn of foot might be too much for the opposition to match.

The classy filly Alexis bounced back to her best last time out when dropped back to this trip and also possesses a terrific turn of foot.

Zambezi River won the R2 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes and trainer Sean Tarry believes his Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas run was “not his run”. That was his first de feat and he will be a big player, although his high draw of 15 might be a concern on the day.

Brutal Force finished second in the Ready To Run Stakes from a wide draw.  His only win was over this course and distance and this big horse is improving all the time, so he will be a big runner from a nice low draw.

Beloved Country has matched it with some of the best three-year-olds in KZN and will also be running on strongly over what should be an ideal course and distance and a possibly ideal draw of six.

Equity Kicker beat two horses, Castlethorpe and Happy Forever, that are involved in the Cape Flying Championship and jockey Grant van Niekerk

knows now that he is better when ridden from off the pace. He should see out the trip if those tactics are repeated and he has a low draw.

Spanish Dawn needed her last start quite badly and as a big striding, speedy sort could earn.

The selection is Kingvoldt to beat Alexis with Zambezi River, Brutal Force and Beloved Country next best.

Music App should beat the horses to have raced in the fist leg of the PA, but the three first-timers all have interesting pedigrees and must be considered.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Bella Espumante looked like a promising sort on debut and can be forgiven her last outing when having to travel to Johannesburg. Al’s Bonanza should also be included.

Perini looks to be the right one in the first leg of the Jackpot as he ran on well after a slow start over 1000m last time and should relish the extra distance.

In the 8^th race over 1400m the consistent Dangerous Liaison comes from some strong formlines and is off a competitive merit rating. He is drawn well over a suitable trip.

The last race is open and Revved Up, Fort De Oura, Count Dracula, Three Balloons and Arctic Teon make the most appeal.