MIKE de Kock’s stable didn’t enjoy the most successful of afternoons on Summer Cup Day at Turffontein on Saturday, but Mike promised that there are better days to come.

He said: “I don’t want to get over-analytical about Saturday, it was just one of those off days at the track. We can’t win everything, every time. Several of our runners pulled up coughing, including Desert Sheik, Mujaarib and Merhee, but we’ll leave it there. I’m not going to look for excuses. They will all be back to offer better runs.”

Ilsanpietro, second in the 2011 Summer Cup, fared best of the stable’s representatives in this year’s renewal, finishing third to Joe Soma’s Wagner.

Mike congratulated Soma and owners Markus and Ingrid Jooste on their big win.