EXCALIBUR’s Return (Diego de Gouveia), racing in Mike de Kock’s silks, posted a 2000m win at the Vaal on Tuesday that was enjoyable and actually quite apt because it happened at the time Mike and family was attending Chris Gerber’s Memorial Service in Johannesburg.

Excalibur’s Return.

Excalibur’s Return was bred by Gerber and Bennie van der Merwe’s up-and-coming Moutonshoek Stud – by Golden Sword from Home Safe by Silvano – representing a stud Mike likes to buy from. They have always represented value and Gerber’s policy was always to ‘let them go’ without fighting over reserves – to keep the buyer happy even in tough times for breeders.

Earlier, Gavin Lerena brought The Dazzler home to justify support in a 1700m Assessment Plate. This one’s career was interrupted by a wind operation, but he’s come back very well and Mathew de Kock said: “He’s a horse we fancy to win a few more, thanks to the owners for their patience and support.”

The Dazzler races for Mike, Larry Nestadt, JJ van der Linden and Mark Currie, He’s a Scott Bros graduate by Mogok.

The Dazzler.