THE Mike de Kock team at Summerveld will be looking for a good run from Patriotic Rebel (photo) in the Grade 2 Betting World Derby over 2400m at Clairwood on Sunday and assistant trainer Nathan Kotzen made him the yard’s best runner on the card.

 De Kock said he had liked what he had seen of this Stronghold gelding before his unplaced run in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000.

 That was his second run after a rest and gelding and might have come too soon after his unplaced effort behind Variety Club over the too sharp 1400m, which was his first run for the De Kock yard.

 Patriotic Rebel was always seen to be running on strongly during his Cape Town career, including when a 1,1 length fourth in the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby.

 Kotzen had no doubt he would see out Sunday’s trip.

 This horse could throw a spanner into the works for the Vodacom Durban July final field selection panellists if he wins on Sunday.

 On the other hand it is not a vintage field as he is the joint-top merit rated horse on 95.

 The horse he has to beat might be the Joey Ramsden-trained Silvano’s Jet.

 Ramsden said on his daily blog before the Daily News 2000 that he had been very excited about Silvano’s Jet’s first run after gelding and a throat operation, but lamented that the Daily News had come one week too soon. 

His dam State Coach by Jet Master was also trained by Ramsden and won over 2000m, while Silvano is a stamina influence, so he should enjoy the trip and is well drawn with in form Sean Cormack up. 

Wind Trip is the joint highest merit rated horse in the race, one point ahead of Silvano’s Jet and Abercrombie. 

Interestingly, both Wind Trip and Abercrombie are by Trippi, who was a sprint-miler. 

However, Wind Trip is out of a Fort Wood mare that won her maiden over 1800m and was subsequently placed over 2000m, while Abercrombie is out of the Grade 1-winning Jet Master mare Stratos, who also won a Grade 3 over the tough Turffontein 1800m, so both horses have a chance of getting the trip. 

Trainer Garth Puller feared before Wind Trip’s last race in the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m that it might come too soon after his previous outing, but he was seen to be staying on well, which augurs well for his chances here from a good draw. 

Abercrombie stayed on quite well when a 1,15 length fifth in the Cape Derby and wasn’t disgraced in the Daily News 2000 where he had a wide draw and weakened from a handy position to finish just over five lengths back. 

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Hot Ticket relished first time blinkers last time out and won by four lengths from a decent sort in King Neptune over 2000m at Clairwood. 

He could well be on the up, so is a definite runner here, despite officially being 3kg under sufferance with Patriotic Rebel. 

The Sean Tarry-trained The King And I is an effective front-runner and finished only a length behind Wylie Hall in the Derby Trial over 2000m at Turffontein, despite giving the latter 2kg. 

That form has stood up extremely well. 

On the downside The King And I is not the most reliable sort and is also by the sprinter Tobe Or Nottobe, although there is some stamina in his female line. 

The Gavin van Zyl-trained Balse was only 1,8 lengths behind Wyle Hall in the Derby Trial at level weights, and in the SA Derby he was unsuited to front-running tactics. 

Van Zyl reckoned he would be more competitive this time held up, although he does have the widest draw of all. 

Kalmia has always struck as wanting this sort of trip, which he has won over before, but he has a lot to do at the weights. 

His stablemate Victory Emblem has caught the eye before and could be the dark horse, despite being way out at the weights. 

Savage Win has been disappointing, although he has always been thought of as a Derby type. 

Weiho Marwing-trained horses can never be ignored in staying races, although his charge Sky Rise doesn’t make much appeal on form. 

Royal Lance has it all to do at the weights and from a wide draw.