Weights and Draws for Guineas Day.

PHUMELELA MEDIA RELEASE

SUBJECT: Weights and draws for Guineas Day

DATE: Monday 16 February 2010

RELEASED BY: Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Limited

Trainer Mike de Kock holds a strong hand in all of the Graded races to be run on Guineas Day at Turffontein but he may not be too happy with some of the draws his runners have received.
The R1-million Gauteng Guineas (G2), the first leg of the Triple Crown, heads up the meeting at Turffontein on Saturday 27 February, which will also see the running of the R1-million Empress Club Stakes (G1), the R500,000 Gauteng Fillies Guineas (G2) - the first leg of the Triple Tiara - and the R300,000 Hawaii Stakes (G2)
De Kock has duplicated the entries of some of his three-year-old fillies in the Guineas, the Fillies Guineas and the Empress Club Stakes so he does have the option of choosing the best line-up for his runners.
J&B Met runner-up Mother Russia has landed a No 18 draw for the Empress Club Stakes over 1600m but that is countered by the news that his leading three-year-olds – Sidera and Gluwein – have drawn well for both the Empress Club Stakes and the Fillies Guineas. Unbeaten three-year-old Sidera is drawn at No 1 for the Grade 1 race and at No 8 for the Fillies Guineas, while Gluwein is at No 8 and No 4 respectively.
In the Guineas Havasha has drawn at No 18, Storm Crossing at 17, fillies Flirtation and Gluwein at Nos 29 and 23 respectively with only Fisani getting a favourable draw at No 7.
In the Hawaii Stakes, 2008 Summer Cup winner Rudra, who made a winning return to the track earlier this month, is drawn at No 23 of the 26 runners.
There was mixed fortune as well for champion trainer Charles Laird and KwaZulu-Natal-based Herman Brown, who will be disappointed that Absolute Heretic has drawn at No 31 for the Guineas.
Final declarations take place on Thursday at 11am.
Nominations with draws and weights

EMPRESS CLUB STAKES (G1)(F&M) R1-million 1600m

11 CANDY SINGER (M F De Kock) 58.0
19 CAPTAIN'S GAL (S G Tarry) 58.0
6 GOLDEN SCOLD (P F Matchett) 58.0
5 KIRIBATI (S G Tarry) 58.0
12 LISA ANNE (G M Alexander) 58.0
9 MILK AND HONEY (M F De Kock) 58.0
14 MITRA (G V Woodruff) 58.0
18 MOTHER RUSSIA (M F De Kock) 58.0
7 PRESTIC (G H Van Zyl) 58.0
15 QUEEN'S BAY (M G Azzie) 58.0
4 RUN ANGEL RUN (B D Botes) 58.0
17 TEA BREAK (K Naidoo) 58.0
13 ALL AFIRE (A G Laird) 54.0
16 ARIZA (M F De Kock) 54.0
3 FISANI (M F De Kock) 54.0
10 FLIRTATION (M F De Kock) 54.0
21 GENEROUS ANNA (C Laird) 54.0
8 GLUWEIN (M F De Kock) 54.0
2 HERE TO WIN (M F De Kock) 54.0
20 JET TRAIL (A G Laird) 54.0
1 SIDERA (M F De Kock) 54.0

GAUTENG GUINEAS (G2) R1-million 1600m

31 ABSOLUTE HERETIC (H J Brown) 57.0
12 AMATOL (G J Maroun) 57.0
15 BULSARA (G H Van Zyl) 57.0
27 CURVED BALL (C Laird) 57.0
2 DELLOTTO (K Naidoo) 57.0
5 DRAW BRIDGE (R R Sage) 57.0
4 ECHOHAWK (D Zaki) 57.0
24 FLYBYME (G V Woodruff) 57.0
11 FLYING TRISTRAM (C Laird) 57.0
22 FORT PETERSBURG (D Zaki) 57.0
8 GALILEO'S GALAXY (C Laird) 57.0
18 HAVASHA (M F De Kock) 57.0
14 HOUSTON TRIP (G J Maroun) 57.0
13 ILIAD (R R Sage) 57.0
1 IWANNADANCE (R R Magner) 57.0
10 MAHOGANY (P F Matchett) 57.0
16 MAHUBO (H J Brown) 57.0
6 NYAKATHO (E G Anderson) 57.0
21 ORBISON (H J Brown) 57.0
25 ORBIT WAR (A W Kethro) 57.0
3 PIERRE JOURDAN (G M Alexander) 57.0
28 POWER FORCE (H J Brown) 57.0
19 ROCK ME CAPTAIN (L Wiid) 57.0
20 RULE THE NATION (S G Tarry) 57.0
26 SABATINO (B D Botes) 57.0
9 SERVICE ACE (M G Azzie) 57.0
30 SMANJEMANJE (T Zackey) 57.0
17 STORM CROSSING (M F De Kock) 57.0
7 FISANI (M F De Kock) 54.5
29 FLIRTATION (M F De Kock) 54.5
23 GLUWEIN (M F De Kock) 54.5

GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS (G2) R500,000 1600m

27 ADORABLE (C Laird) 57.0
24 ALDERRY (M F De Kock) 57.0
29 ALL AFIRE (A G Laird) 57.0
16 ARIZA (M F De Kock) 57.0
26 BUTTONWOOD TREE (M G Azzie) 57.0
21 CASHEW NUT (G H Van Zyl) 57.0
14 CATHERINA LADY (D N Stenger) 57.0
20 CINNAMON SUGAR (R R Magner) 57.0
2 CYCLONE BARBARA (W H Tolmay) 57.0
19 FISANI (M F De Kock) 57.0
12 FLIRTATION (M F De Kock) 57.0
25 FLOWING AMBER (C Laird) 57.0
9 FLYTE (S G Tarry) 57.0
5 GENEROUS ANNA (C Laird) 57.0
4 GLUWEIN (M F De Kock) 57.0
11 GOT PERSONALITY (N F Peech) 57.0
23 HERE TO WIN (M F De Kock) 57.0
30 JET TRAIL (A G Laird) 57.0
28 LADY LECTURE (M G Azzie) 57.0
13 LAVERNA (M F De Kock) 57.0
22 MRS BROCK (R R Sage) 57.0
3 PAGAN DANCE (C Laird) 57.0
18 QUALITY ALONE (C Laird) 57.0
17 QUEEN MIRA (G V Woodruff) 57.0
8 SIDERA (M F De Kock) 57.0
10 SPICED GOLD (S T Pettigrew) 57.0
7 SPLASH AROUND (L Wiid) 57.0
1 TE MOOI (G V Woodruff) 57.0
6 VALLEY OF RUBIES (E G Anderson) 57.0
15 WATER NYMPH (M G Azzie) 57.0

HAWAII STAKES (G2) R300,000 1400m

23 SMART BANKER (C Laird) 60.0
22 RUDRA (M F De Kock) 57.0
3 EIGHT STREET (C Laird) 56.5
25 DAN DE LAGO (C Laird) 55.5
5 FENERBAHCE (G M Alexander) 54.5
9 RUDI ROCKS (C Laird) 54.5
24 THEREALSLIMSHADY (A G Laird) 54.5
10 BHEKINKOSI (G M Alexander) 54.0
11 BRAGGADACIO (M F De Kock) 54.0
4 BUY AND SELL (S G Tarry) 54.0
19 CARBON LEADER (A G Laird) 54.0
21 CHOISIR (G V Woodruff) 54.0
15 CROWN OF POWER (C Laird) 54.0
12 EMIR (G M Alexander) 54.0
26 IMPERIAL GESTURE (C Laird) 54.0
8 JET TYCOON (G V Woodruff) 54.0
7 JOHNNIE FOX (R P Lerena) 54.0
14 LIGHTNING LECTURE (D J Nieuwenhuizen) 54.0
18 LUBRICATOR (D N Stenger) 54.0
1 MENTOR (D J Nieuwenhuizen) 54.0
20 SIRIUS STAR (G M Alexander) 54.0
16 TAP TAP (A G Laird) 54.0
2 THANDOLWAMI (C Eudey) 54.0
6 THE BIG ASK (M G Azzie) 54.0
17 WINTERWONDERLAND (W H Marwing) 54.0
13 POLAR MOON (G J Maroun) 51.00

Lubricator with Stenger.

Good Luck.

No River Jetez in the Empress,must be kicking on with the Dubai plans?

PHUMELELA MEDIA RELEASE

SUBJECT: Final fields for Guineas Day

DATE: Thursday 18 February 2010

RELEASED BY: Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Limited

As expected trainer Mike de Kock will have a major say on Guineas Day at Turffontein on Saturday 27 February.
The former SA champion trainer runs three horses in the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes, two in the R1-million Gauteng Guineas, six in the Grade 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas and two in the Hawaii Stakes over 1400m.
The Gauteng Guineas (G2), which is the first leg of the SASCOC Triple Crown, has attracted a strong field of three-year-olds, headed up by Pierre Jourdan from the Gary Alexander yard. The son of Parade Leader has won four of his five races, his only narrow defeat coming at the hands of Havasha, who is one of De Kock’s two runners. His second is the filly Gluwein, who dead-heated with Love Is In The Air in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes at Kenilworth last month. Anthony Delpech will ride Gluwein while Piere Strydom is aboard Havasha.
Champion trainer Charles Laird sends out Dingaans and Cape Guineas runner-up Galileo’s Galaxy, as well as the much-improved Flying Tristram. Stable jockey Anton Marcus has chosen to ride Galileo’s Galaxy.
De Kock’s six runners dominate the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, the first leg of the Triple Tiara, with unbeaten Sidera heading the list. She is perfectly drawn at No 4 and has Delpech in the irons. Backing her are stablemates Laverna, Ariza, Fisani, Here To Win and Alderry.
However, the best of De Kock’s runners looks to be in the Empress Club Stakes where he sends out Mother Russia. Since joining his yard the Windrush filly has won the Ipi Tombe Stakes, the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes and finished runner-up to River Jetez in the J&B Met with Pocket Power behind her.
Marcus, who has ridden her to both of those victories, is in the saddle again. She is superbly weighted under the race conditions but will have to jump from a No 10 draw in this 1600m race.
The Hawaii Stakes brings together some old favourites, headed up by Laird’s Smart Banker and Sean Tarry’s Buy And Sell. However, De Kock saddles 2008 Summer Cup winner Rudra, who was a facile winner of his only start since returning to the track.

FINAL FIELDS
EMPRESS CLUB STAKES (G1)(F&M) R1-MILLION 1600m
1 - 10 MOTHER RUSSIA (M F De Kock) A Marcus 58.0 - 106
2 - 4 PRESTIC (G H Van Zyl) M Odendaal 58.0 - 102
3 - 11 CAPTAIN'S GAL (S G Tarry) P Strydom 58.0 - 100
4 - 8 MITRA (G V Woodruff) D Habib 58.0 - 99
5 - 5 MILK AND HONEY (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 - 97
6 - 2 KIRIBATI (S G Tarry) ............... 58.0 - 92
7 - 9 QUEEN'S BAY (M G Azzie) G Lerena 58.0 - 92
8 - 7 LISA ANNE (G M Alexander) D David 58.0 - 90
9 - 1 RUN ANGEL RUN (B D Botes) M Yeni 58.0 - 84
10 - 3 GOLDEN SCOLD (P F Matchett) G Figueroa 58.0 - 83
11 - 6 CANDY SINGER (M F De Kock) F Herholdt 58.0 - 81
Same Trainer: (1,5,11) (3,6)

GAUTENG GUINEAS (G2) R1-MILLION 1600m
1 - 3 PIERRE JOURDAN (G M Alexander) D David 57.0 - 107
2 - 4 ECHOHAWK (D Zaki) G Lerena 57.0 - 103
3 - 7 GALILEO'S GALAXY (C Laird) A Marcus 57.0 - 103
4 - 11 BULSARA (G H Van Zyl) M Odendaal 57.0 - 102
5 - 6 NYAKATHO (E G Anderson) S Brown 57.0 - 98
6 - 2 DELLOTTO (K Naidoo) M Yeni 57.0 - 97
7 - 12 HAVASHA (M F De Kock) P Strydom 57.0 - 96
8 - 13 FORT PETERSBURG (D Zaki) G Figueroa 57.0 - 95
9 - 10 FLYING TRISTRAM (C Laird) J Geroudis 57.0 - 94
10 - 15 SMANJEMANJE (T Zackey) ............... 57.0 - 91
11 - 1 IWANNADANCE (R R Magner) S Chambers 57.0 - 90
12 - 5 DRAW BRIDGE (R R Sage) G Wrogemann 57.0 - 85
13 - 9 MAHOGANY (P F Matchett) M Mienie 57.0 - 85
14 - 8 SERVICE ACE (M G Azzie) C Orffer 57.0 - 85
15 - 14 GLUWEIN (M F De Kock) A Delpech 54.5 - 100
Same Trainer: (2, (3,9) (7,15)

GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS (G2) R500,000 1600m
1 - 4 SIDERA (M F De Kock) A Delpech 57.0 - 99
2 - 9 CATHERINA LADY (D N Stenger) S Brown 57.0 - 98
3 - 18 JET TRAIL (A G Laird) B Smith 57.0 - 97
4 - 2 GENEROUS ANNA (C Laird) A Marcus 57.0 - 96
5 - 11 QUALITY ALONE (C Laird) P Whitmore 57.0 - 96
6 - 17 ALL AFIRE (A G Laird) P Strydom 57.0 - 93
7 - 10 ARIZA (M F De Kock) D Habib 57.0 - 93
8 - 6 SPICED GOLD (S T Pettigrew) M V'Rensburg 57.0 - 93
9 - 8 LAVERNA (M F De Kock) F Herholdt 57.0 - 92
10 - 12 FISANI (M F De Kock) G Lerena 57.0 - 91
11 - 13 CASHEW NUT (G H Van Zyl) M Odendaal 57.0 - 90
12 - 1 PAGAN DANCE (C Laird) M Mienie 57.0 - 88
13 - 3 VALLEY OF RUBIES (E G Anderson) G Figueroa 57.0 - 88
14 - 15 HERE TO WIN (M F De Kock) C Orffer 57.0 - 87
15 - 16 ALDERRY (M F De Kock) J Geroudis 57.0 - 86
16 - 5 FLYTE (S G Tarry) ............... 57.0 - 84
Reserve Runners
17 - 7 GOT PERSONALITY (N F Peech) Reserve 1 57.0 - 81
18 - 14 MRS BROCK (R R Sage) Reserve 2 57.0 - 81
Same Trainer: (1,7,9,10,14,15) (3,6) (4,5,12)

HAWAII STAKES (G2) R300,000 1400m
1 - 12 SMART BANKER (C Laird) A Marcus 60.0 - 110
2 - 11 RUDRA (M F De Kock) J Geroudis 57.0 - 113
3 - 13 THEREALSLIMSHADY (A G Laird) B Smith 54.5 - 100
4 - 4 FENERBAHCE (G M Alexander) G Figueroa 54.5 - 97
5 - 3 BUY AND SELL (S G Tarry) P Strydom 54.0 - 108
6 - 1 MENTOR (D J Nieuwenhuizen) C Orffer 54.0 - 102
7 - 9 LUBRICATOR (D N Stenger) G Lerena 54.0 - 101
8 - 7 LIGHTNING LECTURE (D J Nieuwenhuizen) S Khumalo 54.0 - 100
9 - 2 THANDOLWAMI (C Eudey) R Danielson 54.0 - 100
10 - 6 BRAGGADACIO (M F De Kock) A Delpech 54.0 - 99
11 - 8 TAP TAP (A G Laird) D Mansour 54.0 - 98
12 - 10 CARBON LEADER (A G Laird) S Brown 54.0 - 91
13 - 5 JET TYCOON (G V Woodruff) M Odendaal 54.0 - 91
Same Trainer: (2,10) (3,11,12) (6,

Strydom / De Kock in the Guiness? Did they make up ?

What about some early betting from the cream cookies?

De Kock runners rarin’ to go for Guineas Day
NICCI GARNER - THE early betting for Guineas Day suggests that the Mike de Kock stable can win three of the four graded features at Turffontein this Saturday, including the G1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m.

De Kock is currently riding the crest of a wave with his international string in Dubai, so we caught up with his Highveld assistant John Buckler to discuss their runners. Reading between the lines, he agrees with the bookmakers’ assessment and though not confident about their SASCOC Triple Crown chances in the Gauteng Guineas, Gluwein and Havasha are definitely not "making up numbers’’.

"Sometimes you expect a good day and have a bad day,’’ Buckler said. "But overall, we have high hopes for Mother Russia (Empress Club Stakes), Sidera, Here To Win and Alderry - we’ll be happy if one of them finishes in the frame in the Fillies Guineas - and Rudra and Braggadacio (Wolf Power Handicap).’’

Shortest-priced favourite is Mother Russia in the Empress Club Stakes. In a handicap she would be giving at least 2kg (the equivalent of two lengths) away. At weight-for-age, she is the one to beat.

A star of Cape-based Joey Ramsden’s stable last season, she has run four races for De Kock since being bought by Mary Slack’s Wilgerbosdrift Stud. In the first over a distance way short of her best, she finished second to Smart Banker over 1160m at Turffontein. She made no mistakes in the Ipi Tombe Stakes and Paddock Stakes at Kenilworth but then came arguably the best run of her career to date - a 0.50-length second in the Met where she beat home SA champion Pocket Power after looking all-over the winner 100m from the line.

And Buckler says she’s improved in her work since that race! "She came back from Cape Town very well,’’ he said. "And Anton Marcus (who rode her to both her wins for De Kock) is back on board, so we’re hoping she can win again.’’

She did not fare well in the ballot for barriers, drawing at No 10, but Buckler is not overly concerned about her berth. "I don’t see much pace in the race, which is a bit of a worry, but she’s got a lot of toe and will make up a lot of ground when Anton asks for her effort.’’

Buckler believes their other two horses in the race, Milk And Honey and Candy Singer, will also run well. "Milk And Honey won well last time out, needing the run. She’s stripped now and only has a filly like Mother Russia to beat,’’ he said. "We thought Candy Singer had a feature win in her, but she battles with her breathing.’’

Milk And Honey beat Prestic (3.5kg better off) by a neck over 1600m on the inside track last time out with Golden Scold (0.75-length third - 5kg worse off) and Candy Singer (1.75-length fourth - 5kg worse off), Lisa Anne (fifth - 1.5kg worse off), Kiribati (sixth - 1kg worse off) and Run Angel Run (seventh - 4.5kg worse off) further back.

The stable will saddle six of the 16 runners in the G2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, the first leg of the SA Triple Tiara, including 12-10 favourite Sidera, who is unbeaten in three starts.

"Sidera is doing very well,’’ says Buckler. "We gave her a bit of a break (after she beat Generous Anna in the Steinhoff Fillies Mile on Summer Cup day) but we’re expecting a good run. There are some very nice fillies in that race, though, and you never know how they’ll improve over time.’’

He fancies that Here To Win and Alderry are the next-best stable runners, though neither has run in this class of field before. "Here To Win ran on well from last (to beat Majestic Legend over 1600m on the inside track) and from the No 15 draw, we’ll use the same tactics again. I like Alderry very much. She keeps getting stronger and improving.’’

Alderry was never headed when justifying odds-on favouritism to beat Ahazaza over 1800m at the Vaal last month.

"Laverna,’’ he says, "has been a bit disappointing, but we’ve exchanged the blinkers for pacifiers and taken the tongue tie off. She’s working well but not better in the pacifiers.’’

He added that Ariza would probably prefer further and Fisani would improve on her last effort (when only eighth behind Catherina Lady).

Rudra is currently 18-10 favourite for the G2 Hawaii Stakes with stablemate Braggadacio third favourite at 4-1. Buckler says he is expecting good runs from both.

"Rudra has come on after his win in the Wolf Power Handicap. But this is obviously on the short side for him. He’ll be beaten for early toe but will be running on at them at the end. Braggadacio is coming to hand again.’’

Gluwein is the stable elect in the Gauteng Guineas. "She’s in this race because we had so many in the Fillies Guineas that we felt we had to separate them. She’s taking on a strong calibre of horse.’’

He is not concerned about her No 14 draw: "She comes from off them, so it won’t matter that much.’’

He said Havasha had been "very disappointing’’ in his last race. "No excuses,’’ he said bluntly. "He put up good work beforehand and pulled up sound. In the race he never kicked at all. He doesn’t run two races the same, this fellow, so I guess you could say he’s the dark horse.’’

The De Kock runners will have their final workouts tomorrow.

Ryan Roberts previews the Guineas Here

Ryan Roberts previews the Empress, Hawaii and Aquanaut Here