MIKE de Kock gave unraced two-year-old Shoemaker a first-four chance against more experienced runners on his 1400m debut at Turffontein, Saturday, and he won in commanding fashion despite his expected greenness.
Shoemaker was nurtured around the bend by jockey Richard Fourie and left to find his rhythm. When he did, approaching the 300m-mark, and Fourie pressed the button, Shoemaker quickened in eye-catching style and drew away to win, unextended.
The most encouraging part is that Shoemaker came into the race not fully wound up, and with much improvement likely he is to be added to the notebook alongside Union Square, the smart debutant from a fortnight ago.
Fourie was impressed, saying: “He was green, I let him be, but he won well. He is not going to stop here.”
Mike added: “He was outpaced, but put his head down when it mattered. He’ll get better.”
Shoemaker races for the ASSM Racing Syndicate, represented on course by Arun Chadha and Warne Rippon.
Mike said: “They are great patrons to me and they’ve become great patrons for racing.”
Shoemaker is by Gimmethgreenlight out of Moggytwoshoes, by Mogok. He is a half-brother to leading three-year-old Zapatillas, third in the Gr3 Politican Stakes last January.
All black, white and blue. They must buy from the same tailor (and shoemaker?).
