SUMMER Cup King Mike de Kock would like to become the Place Accumulator King at Turffontein this weekend. 

Mike discussed his 14 Cup runners at length and worked out a P/A for visitors to mikedekockracing.com. He bankered two of his charges and loaded up in the other legs, and is expecting a good day at the races. 

Here are Mike’s views of his runners:

SCRUTINIZE (Race 3):

“He is very well and is a smart sort. You can ignore his penultimate run, he had excuses. Blank Cheque came up alongside last time and caused Scrutinize to pull, still he finished only 6 lengths off Emperor Napoleon. I’m expecting a big run here. He has a winning chance. In a difficult P/A I will also take a chance and banker him. If we get through here, we have a good chance of catching it.’’

Scrutinize.

FOREMOST (Race 4)

“He is fit, but the younger horses might have his measure. I’d be happy with a Place.’’ 

LITTLE MISS MAGIC (Race 7):

“This is a nice filly and although she is in a strong field, don’t leave her out of the Quartet. I expect her to be competitive.’’

 KILDONAN; EMPEROR NAPOLEON, ODYSSEUS (Race 8) (Bosanova and Tarwood eliminated):

“This should be a good race for us. I expect Kildonan to win, he has come on from his excellent last run. The horse to beat, to my mind, is our own Emperor Napoleon, a class act. This is his minimum trip, but he, Divine Jury and Biarritz could give Kilodan some cheek. Odysseus is well within himself and fit, add him to the Quartet.’’ 

EQUAL IMAGE; NATIONAL BANKER (Race 9):

Equal Image is top fit and ready. The question marks are the course and the track condition. He’s only won at Turffontein once in eight starts, and he dislikes a soft track. National Banker, for the first time, has had a faultless preparation. She is classy and has lots of ability. I’m expecting a good run. One has to sympathise with owner Ebrahim Khan about his horse Elusive Fort. Khan has invested millions into the industry and deserved his big chance of winning the Summer Cup.’’ 

GOLDSMITH (Race 10) (Men Of Rheims scratched):

“This horse is very fit and well and hasn’t stopped improving. He is worse off with a horse like Successful Bidder on his last run, but wasn’t stopping in that race. He could fight out the finish here.’’ 

MATTO GROSSO; ARABIAN PRINCE; SUGAR BARON; ALDGATE; ANDRONICUSOFRHODES (Race 11):

“Mato Grosso would be the stable elect, he is doing very well. Arabian Prince is an honest sort, a year-and-a-half ago he was unsound and we didn’t have much hope; today he is sound and has won 6 races, his form is exposed but he cannot be ruled out. Sugar Baron has really come into himself well. He is by Trempolino and if the track comes up soft his chances will improve. This is his first attempt this trip, but I like him, I’dmake him my second choice. Aldgate also tries this trip first time, the concern is whether he will stay or not, I am not sure. Andronicusofrhodes is a young improving stayer, we haven’t seen the best of him yet. I believe he has a Graded stayers race in him. I’ve got Richard Fourie riding, a good judge of pace, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they keep going from the front. 

MIKE’S PLACE ACCUMULATOR (R300): Starts Race 3; 12:30

 1^st leg:  (10) Scrutinize 

2^nd leg:  (1) Foremost, (4) Keat’s Drift, (7) Rippling Ring, (9) Nassau Nights, (13) Lord Faberge

 3^rd leg:  (10) Matreshka 

4^th leg:  (2) Vega, (3) Disco Queen, (7) Pure Hokum; (14) Tropical Empire, (16) Jackpot Mac. 

5^th leg: (5) Angel Flight, (6) Little Miss Magic, (7) Woodland City 

6^th leg: (2) Kildonan

7^th leg:  (2) Hunting Tower, (4) Equal Image, (5) Silverpoint, (10) Malteme

10 x 1/4/7/9/13 x 10 x 2/3/7/14/16 x 5/6/7 x 2 x 2/4/5/10 (R300).