Turffontein Saturday

MIKE de Kock has decided to take on the colts with top mare Gibraltar Blue (photo) in Saturday’s Grade 3 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m on Turffontein’s inside track. Flirtation and Welwitschia will contest the Grade 3 Joburg Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge over the same distance.

He is perfectly happy with the preparation of his runners and said on Thursday: “They’re all short of their best, but fit enough to be competitive. We try to keep the stable companions apart when we can. Gibraltar Blue is a little stronger than Welwitschia at this stage so they’re in the right races.

“I’ve always thought of Gibraltar Blue as a Queen’s Plate contender and that’s her aim. She gets her sex allowance in this race and she’s handily weighted. I’m expecting a good run. Flirtation and Welwitschia are fresh after their breaks too. None of them have had enough grass work, they will all improve, but I’m confident they will run close to their form.”

He said of his other runners on what should be a day of quality racing:

“Frontino Gold is the fittest of my runners. He’s a horse that needs ground, he’s battled to get going in his races up to a mile so far. But I rate him, I think he’s a decent type of horse and we’d like to qualify him for the Emperors Cup, so I’ve left him in a 1450m race and the blinkers may well do the trick.

“Sidera will race in a Pinnacle Plate over 2200m. On pedigree she will see out the trip, no problem, and I she is bound to do well here. Her last run was disappointing, I think you can ignore that performance. Dunraven will need this outing to bring him to his peak.”

“Atlantic Oak is nicely in, in a Graduation Plate, she is doing well. Amur Affair tries further, she will come on with this run and on pedigree should see it out.”:

“Do keep in mind that most of our runners have rested.”

hmmmmmmm, i like the caveat at the end

I hate these kind of meetings .The form is relatively straightforward but the fitness is a guess!

Must go look now....

Looking at race 5 Gr3 challenge... 1450m..I think Jet jamborEe is a big runner, was going for gibraltar blue,but when I read MDKs comments,he not too confident..Jet Jam is a front runner and who better to ride than Striker, king jockey for front runners.

Here are my thoughts:

Adella (win)
Frontino gold (win)
Rebel Knight (E/W)
Millenium Wind (E/W)

Happy punting!!

@ismikle:

'hmmmmmmm, i like the caveat at the end'

Probably follow a fitter jockey or two?

Multiples with Delpech & Striker?

race 2 - in a second

race 8 - atlantic oak

race 9 - danger man

Break a leg to all with runners & best to clan punters!


(tu)

I am going to follow Welwitschia this season

ShezaPunter Wrote:

---

> Looking at race 5 Gr3 challenge... 1450m..I think
> Jet jamborEe is a big runner, was going for
> gibraltar blue,but when I read MDKs comments,he
> not too confident..Jet Jam is a front runner and
> who better to ride than Striker, king jockey for
> front runners.

May need further?? BUT is a very nice horse, keep it in the memory box for later in the season...

Whatever you do, DON'T leave out any of the De Kock runners.

Race 2 Laptev Look for a big improvement and a great run today since been gelded.;

Without Malice for Uncle George.

Pa

9x10x11x8x5x1x3

Pick 6

10x11x1-5-8x4-5x1x2-3-6-12

Adella, in a second, stroller, autum mist, Gibraltar, welwitschia,salutation,atlantic, danger man

Good day for the punters and 2 cents?