MIKE de Kock is delighted with his pair of wins recorded at the first night meeting of the season held at Turffontein on Tuesday.
Welwitschia (headline photo) and Silver Flyer, both rested since June 9, came out fresh and well to score impressively on the night and Mike said: “Horses can’t stay fit for 12 months of the year and traditionally I give mine a good break after the Durban season, it works for the stable every year.
“Welwitschia and Silver Flyer spent a month running around the paddocks and enjoyed their periods of rest. They weren’t wound up and will improve more. Welwitschia is a class act and Silver Flyer is a better horse since we gelded him earlier this year. He needed time to come into himself.”
Silver Flyer, coming into his own.
Muzi Yeni, standing in for Anthony Delpech, rode a peach of a race on Welwitschia, who had previously won from 1160m to 1600m and added this Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m to her versatile record. She produced a burst of speed to lead inside the final 200m and held on to win from the formidable sprinter, Deliver The Power.
Said Muzi: “She was slow out but quickly into stride. Mr De Kock told me to wait until she finds her stride and kicks on, which is what she did.”
Mike added: “I think she was too handy, too quick, when she ran second in the SA Fillies Sprint. She delivers a strong kick, the jocks just have to wait for it.”
Mike said he’d be looking at a sprint feature or two in Cape Town later this term for Welwitschia, and that she may go for the Golden Loom Sprint before that.
“Well done to Mary Slack, Welwitschia is doing her proud. Mary went on a shopping spree in Ireland recently, she bought a colt and a filly, and let’s hope they’re as good as this mare turned out to be.”
Silver Flyer, entered for the 2012 Summer Cup, came from last to win as he liked, racing over 1400m under jockey Francois Herholdt. He’d won two of three previous starts over this distance and he, too, is a versatile sort that will already be on some short-lists for the big race.
“We’ll go for the Charity Mile and then for the Summer Cup,” Mike said of Serge Seenyen’s charge.
2 Comments
And now, we see all Mike’s ‘big guns’ coming out for a spring rejuvenation. Can’t wait to see how Alexandra Palace goes this Saturday, after being so green on debut, should be a matter of how far. Maybe the next Triple Crown horse???
job well done guys and I just love seeing your race horses run if yourl don’t get it right the first time yourl make sure yourl get them I just love wat yourl did to deliver the power that horse is to good for a better opersesans but the de kock stable shows them the way welwitschia I new that horse is good but yourl brought her back in form its not coz she was a good price on that day but that makes the public no who’s best all the best on your jobs well done many more to come 😉 for now Im only 24″ Im from a community in durban named tongaat my gran dad was my inspration coz he loved horses as well this name was gs moodley I back a horse in memory of him named G’S boy they called me that when I was littlea, I plan on having my on horse when I’m 30 she must run lyk igugu and be in the mike de kock yard that’s my plan guys n a dream one day I’m coming to see you guys in action in the stables and may god bless yourl wid many more champion horses