“HE’s no ‘Mr. Plod’, believe you me,” said Mike de Kock after  Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s three-year-old Ancestral Fore had won the 2010 Canon Gold Cup in impressive fashion from Vertical Takeoff and Predestination. “He’s versatile, a super horse and he will take his place in the Durban July before we send him to Dubai.“

Ancestral Fore had a perfect position throughout, lobbing along comfortably behind pacemaker Sports Factor, Reconcile and Predestination and it was clear a long way out that Shea was simply waiting to shake him up for a finishing run.

He did that as soon as Ancrestral Fore had swung for home and his head was pointed straight. He raced easily into the lead and won by two lengths despite shifting and looking for company late.

Ancestral Fore wins Canon Gold Cup

“Dynasty was a great racehorse and he’s turned into a wonderful stallion,“ Mike said about the sire of Ancestral Fore and July favourite Irish Flame. Rudra, Bold Silvano and new acquisition Lizarre will also stand their ground for the big race if all goes according to plan.

On another great day for the stable Mike saddled three winners and shot past trainer Charles Laird’s R16,6 million stakes record set last season. Saturday’s earnings boosted the stable’s seasonal earnings to around R17,3 million (unofficial at this writing). Also Shea booted home his first Gold Cup winner in a career spanning 31 years and Ancestral Fore became the first three-year-old in 22 years to win the great race for stayers.

Gibraltar Blue wins Tibouchina Stakes.

Gibraltar Blue, six months younger than her rivals as a Northern Hemisphere-bred, confirmed her tremendous ability with a win in the Grade 2 Ticouchina Stakes over 1400m.

The filly by Rock of Gibraltar’s natural speed carried her clear of the opposition and she held on well to beat Autumn Gold and Strawberry Ice.

Said Mike: “This filly’s pace is her greatest advantage. If we get a good draw in the Garden Province Stakes we’ll probably run her, but she’s done very well for the stable and proven herself so there is no pressure.“

Gibraltar Blue is owned by Klawervlei Stud.