“THE further the better,” was the post-race comment made after all three races won by Mike de Kock’s runners at Turffontein on Saturday.
Will I Do, World Domination and Jet Avenger tried 1800m for the first time in their careers and all won impressively, promising more to come soon.
The stable expected a good day, but assistant trainer Mathew de Kock and the team didn’t have the best start to the afternoon when 9-20 favourite Trip To Rio failed to kick on in Race 2 over 1450m, finishing out of the money.
Trip To Rio’s run is best ignored though. He was cut into, injured his mouth and was reported coughing after the race.
Will I Do, enjoyed the extra.
The grey Will I Do got things back on track with a smart Maiden win in Race 3 for the Haynes family, Gary Grant and Mike de Kock. She raced in the silks of the Haynes’ former star filly Fair Maiden, who set the tracks alight a decade ago.
Will I Do was travelling like a “good thing” fully 400m from the line and jockey Randall Simons had to do no more than point her in the right direction. She quickened up and galloped away from her opposition, winning by 4.50-lengths.
Placed the Vaal on Tuesday, Will I Do was fit as a fiddle and looked a picture. “We declared for this race before she ran on Tuesday, but she pulled up well and from her good draw we had to take our chances today,” said Mathew.
“Will I Do went down beautifully,” confirmed Simons, delighted with his arm-chair ride.
World Domination (red cap), likes a challenge.
Mike, Chris Haynes and Grant notched a quick double when three-year-old colt World Domination rattled gamely to win Race 6 from the older campaigner, Commodore Al.
Owned in partnership with Jessica Slack, World Domination was tipped in this column as one to follow up quickly when he cracked his Maiden last month and his name should remain in the notebook. Like last time, World Domination appeared to relish the challenge of taking on a hard-galloping rival in the finish. Courage is always a good attribute – this one looks to have the heart needed to go through the divisions.
“He’s laid-back and still learning, he will come on from this run,” noted apprentice Craig Zackey, who rode a well-timed finish.
Jet Avenger, confident now.
Jet Avenger, too, has found the confidence needed to make progress through the ranks. He scored a second successive win for apprentice Akash Aucharuz, finishing too strong for his fancied challenger Norgay and, perhaps the first time, looking like he actually enjoyed his run.
“Jet Avenger was well in at the weights today and he won a nice race, well done to Mrs and Mrs Jooste,” Mathew said about the four-year-old son of Jet Master.
