De Kock holds the key as local juveniles go on show at Vaal
JACK MILNER - The Gauteng juveniles get their first chance to strut their stuff when they compete in the Listed Ruffian Stakes and Storm Bird Stakes, both over 1000m, at the Vaal Saturday.
This meeting was moved from Turffontein due to a waterlogged track.
Two-year-old form can often be difficult to assess as inexperience often plays a major part. However, Mike de Kock is sure to have a big say in the two races.
The fillies line up first in the Ruffian Stakes and De Kock’s yard will field Empire Rose. The Argentine-bred filly looks quite a handful and appears to have a mercurial Latin temperament. In her debut she was not keen to enter the starting stalls and then ran greenly. In the end she did well to finish third, beaten 0.80 lengths by Oochee Agent.
Her next start was in a Juvenile Plate where she took on a field of winners. That time she reared as the stalls opened and still raced greenly, but when Johnny Geroudis finally straightened her up, she mowed down the field to beat Success Counts by 0.50 lengths, easing up at the finish.
She gave the impression that she is looking for further, though, and may struggle to confirm that form with Ormond Ferraris’ filly who is now 3kg better off. Success Counts will have Gavin Lerena in the irons and right now there are not too many jockeys riding with his confidence and capability. The temperamental Empire Rose is sure to be short priced and Success Counts could provide better value for punters.
Sean Tarry saddles two unraced runners and it would appear from the jockey arrangements that Southern Lights, with Anton Marcus aboard, is the stable elect. She is a daughter of Captain Al while stablemate Red Delicious, to be ridden by Corne Orffer, is by Casey Tibbs. It could pay to watch for any betting support.
De Kock has an even stronger hand in the Storm Bird Stakes where he runs Burmese Cat and Zanzamar. The former won his debut but was well beaten by James Maree’s Magico in his second start.
So Zanzamar looks the more likely option. He was ignored in the market in his debut and drifted from 5-2 to 13-1, but still did well to finish a one-length second to Michael Azzie’s Torch Singer.
The son of Fort Wood can only improve on that performance. With Marcus in the saddle and now getting 3kg from Torch Singer and Burmese Cat, he looks the one they all must beat.
Other than Torch Singer, Azzie also saddles Tallyrand and first-timer Legislature.
Tallyrand won yesterday at the Vaal and will either get a 3kg penalty or could be pulled out of the race. The third feature on the card is the Listed Bauhinia Handicap over 1000m for fillies and mares and it is hard to look past Noble Heir. Dennis Bosch brought her to Gauteng for the Grade 3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap and she never looked like getting caught. She was only penalised 1.5kg for that win and now takes on runners of her own sex.
Mary Lou won well over 1160m in her penultimate start but was completely outpaced by Mana Mou over 1000m in her next outing. One feels she needs that extra 100m or so to give of her best but she should contest the finish.
Esterel was impressive when beating Picadilly Miss by 4.25 lengths last time out but was penalised 5kg for that win and without the apprentice allowance she enjoyed that day, is now 6,5kg worse off. That should bring the two closer together but younger Esterel may have more room for improvement.
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