De Kock brings out big guns
This Grade 2 race on the Turffontein Standside track is also the joint first leg of the SA Triple Crown.
Mike de Kock looks to have a strong hand in both the World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas and the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas. Picture: JC Photographics
Mike de Kock has brought out all his big guns plus a few side weapons to back them up to run in the R1-million Gauteng Guineas over 1600m on Saturday 2 February.
This Grade 2 race on the Turffontein Standside track is also the joint first leg of the SA Triple Crown.
The Cape Guineas (Grade 1), run at Kenilworth in December, is the other joint first leg and that was won by Soqrat who is also among the entries for this race.
Along with him De Kock has entered unbeaten Hawwaam, winner of the Grade 2 Dingaans, Barahin, who has not raced since beating Soqrat in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Greyville on Durban July day, Alyaasaat and Arlington’s Revenge.
However, De Kock did not have the best of luck with draws as most of his runners have ended up with wide draws. However, only 17 runners have been nominated so there could be a few scratchings which would help.
But he will face a strong challenge from three Sean Tarry runners – Against The Grain, Vontreo and Zillzaal.
National Park, the Port Elizabeth horse who won the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes at Turffontein over 1400m is also among the entries but he was well beaten by Hawwaam in the Dingaans.
The R750,000 Wilgerbosdri Gauteng Fillies Guineas is the first leg of the Wilgerbosdri SA Triple Tiara and in this race all eyes will be on Ormond Ferraris-trained Blossom as she is the daughter of previous Triple Tiara champion Cherry On The Top.
Who was also trained by Ferraris. Unfortunately, she drew on the outside of the field at No 19.Tarry has entered five runners and De Kock three.
The final fields will be announced next week.
Entries for the R1-million Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) (1st Leg SA Triple Crown) over 1600m at Turff ontein on Satur-day 2 February. 6 AGAINST THE GRAIN (S G Tarry) 60.07 ALYAASAAT (M F De Kock) 60.05 APPROACH CONTROL (C Dawson) 60.08 ARLINGTONS REVENGE (M F De Kock) 60.017 BARAHIN (M F De Kock) 60.02 CHIJMES (G M Alexander) 60.04 GREEN HAZE (A G Laird) 60.011 HAWWAAM (M F De Kock) 60.015 MARCHINGONTOGETHER (C D van Zyl) 60.016 MONOPOLIZE (P A Peter) 60.01 NATIONAL PARK (Y Bremner) 60.03 OWLINTHETREE (G V Wood-ruff ) 60.012 ROCKY NIGHT (A B Fortune) 60.013 SOQRAT (M F De Kock) 60.09 STREAM AHEAD (C D van Zyl) 60.014 VONTREO (S G Tarry) 60.010 ZILLZAAL (S G Tarry) 60.0Entries for the R750,000 Wilgerbosdri Gauteng Fil-lies Guineas (Grade 2) (1st Leg Wilgerbosdri SA Triple Tiara) over 1600m.19 BLOSSOM (O A Ferraris) 60.08 CELTIC SEA (S G Tarry) 60.07 CHITENGO (A G Laird) 60.012 CORDILLERA (S G Tarry) 60.06 DAGMAR (M F De Kock) 60.011 I LIKE IT (S Moff a ) 60.016 JUST CHAOS (S B Kotzen) 60.03 MAZARI (T Spies) 60.04 NAFAAYES (M F De Kock) 60.018 PERFECT TIGRESS (M/A Azzie) 60.017 RAILTRIP (C D van Zyl) 60.014 RETURN FLIGHT (S G Tar-ry) 60.010 RONNIE’S CANDY (S J Gray) 60.02 RUNNING BRAVE (P F Matche ) 60.01 SAINTS ALIVE (S G Tarry) 60.05 SCENT OF EVENING (M N Houdalakis) 60.013 STORM DESTINY (M F De Kock) 60.09 VI VA PI PA (S G Tarry) 60.015 VISTULA (P A Peter) 60.0
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