MIKE de Kock, who has four Vodacom Durban July wins to his credit, believes his 2018 runner Yakeen has definite place prospects.

The three-year-old import by Teofilio comes into the race off a good preparation and Mike said: “This is the fittest we’ve ever had him. He’s always been plagued in his preps, but not this time, things have gone straight forward and he’s very fit and well.”

Mike added: “Yakeen is still improving. He won the Gr3 Jubilee Handicap in his second run after a layoff and he’s better for it now. He is 0.5kg under sufferance, but that doesn’t concern me. I’ve run places in the July with horses of lesser talent and Yakeen probably has a few pounds in hand.”

If there is to be a worry, it is that Yakeen needs more racing experience and Mike opined: “He’s only had six career runs and he’s not as battle-hardened as he could have been. He did show plenty of courage to win the Jubilee Handicap but we could’ve done with a few more starts under the belt for experience.”