EXCALIBUR’s Return (5-2) was the third of three winners for the stable at Turffontein on Tuesday night, coming home powerfully to win her Maiden over 2000m under Callan Murray.

Excalibur’s Return.

The Moutonshoek-bred is a typical example of a “steal” at an auction. At R50,000 she was one of the cheapest yearlings at the 2016 BSA National Yearling Sale and Mike de Kock recalls: “She was a nice specimen by Golden Sword from the family of Whistle Stop and her second dam produced an Equus Champion in Asylum Seeker.

“I was surprised she didn’t get a bid, so I offered Moutonshoek Stud R50,000 for her after the sale and they accepted. She won’t win only a Maiden, you can watch her!”

Pietro Mascagni.

From the same sale came Silvano’s son Pietro Mascagni (4-1), the middle winner in the treble, in a debut success over 1160m for Anthony Delpech. He went for R2,3-million and races for Sheikh Hamdan. He only got up to win by a short head but Mike offered: “This is a very promising horse. He stood in the stalls and had no right to win, yet he did and set a fast time of 66.9s.

“There is every chance that this formline will work out very well, especially when the second horse Square The Circle and the third horse Star Of Joburg run again. The fourth horse was nine lengths back.

Delpech also rode Mike’s first Tuesday winner, Mable Syrup (Maiden f&m, 1160m), another Silvano offspring from Milk and Honey, and also a winner fist time out.

“She’s Mary Slack’s filly from a good old Brazilian family and she has potential,” said Mike.

Mable Syrup (left) – JC Photos.