MIKE de Kock’s chance of winning the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m at Scottsville on Saturday was dealt a blow when his hot ante-post favourite Majmu had to be scratched from the race due to a virus, but he won the race anyway with 12-1 Australian import Alboran Sea (headline photo) and saddled the third horse past the post in One Fine Day.

Alboran Sea raced just off the pace alongside Arria and Rich Girl as Balkan set the pace just ahead of Seven Whispers and Flame Cat. One Fine Day was on Alboran Sea’s heels. Jockey Muzi Yeni found himself with nowhere to go behind Balkan, with Flame Cat and Cotton Candy on either side of him as Rich Girl launched a successful challenge for the lead.

Alboran Sea (Muzi Yeni) on her victory parade with Diane de Kock and Jessica Slack.

However, at the 200m marker, Balkan started fading and a gap materialized for Yeni. Within a matter of strides Alboran Sea had the race at her mercy. She went on to win by 2.25 lengths from Rich Girl, with One Fine Day running on strongly and failing by a neck to give the stable a 1-2 in the event.

This was a second win in as many starts for Aloboran Sea, a daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar owned in partnership by Mary Slack and Michael Javett.  She looks nearly as special as her top class stablemate Majmu and Mike commented: “Alboran Sea is very progressive and scopy and we have a number of options with her going forward. My gut feel says Majmu is the superior of the pair, we’ll have to wait and see.”

Mike and Form Bloodstock’s Jehan Malherbe selected and bought Alboran Sea at the Inglis Sale in Melbourne. He said: “I’m pleased most of all for Michael Javett, a stalwart of racing for many decades. He’s a unassuming man who does plenty for racing behind the scenes aside from his big investments in thoroughbreds. He is based in the UK and commutes to South Africa on occasion – he pops up at the stables now and then to see his horses and we are all delighted to have trained this Gr1 winner for him. In Mary Slack he has a similarly visionary partner and this could only lead to more success in future ventures.”

Mike was concerned that One Fine Day would be tested at 1200m and the way she ran on was highly promising. The grey Shahrasal, his third Allan Robertson entry ran a satisfactory race, beaten eight lengths when expected to find six furlongs way too sharp in this company – another for the notebook.

The highly-regarded Banaadeer was beaten into sixth  by Guiness in the Gr1 Gold Medallion and Mike commented: “This was a disappointing run, but he is a November foal and I suspect he has a lot of maturing to do so we’ll probably put him away for now. I thought he’d be an out and out sprinter, but looking at his run here, he could develop into a sprinter-miler as on older horse, don’t write him off!”

Forries Waltz (Warrren Kennedy) came to the standside for a good win in open company.

Earlier in the day two-year-old Forries Waltz (Warren Kennedy) won a good race for Mike and partner Chris Gerber. Bred by Wicklow Stud, he’s a son of Grey’s Inn from a mare by Rich Man’s Gold who is likely to train on to better things. Mike said: “We’ve always liked Forries Waltz, that he could win a handicap in open company speaks volumes. We don’t have Dubai plans for him at this point, we’ll keep him here for the time being, he looks like one who will go through the divisions.” – extracts from tabonline.co.za