Weekend runner comments

Three Grade 1 Summer Cup contenders, Aragosta, Silver Sanctuary and Safe Passage make their seasonal debuts in Race 5 over 1600m on the inside track at Turffontein, Saturday.

Mike de Kock commented: “My three runners are all short of peak fitness, they will need their runs. This race is quite a conundrum for partners, because only two of 13 runners have had recent starts. The sprinter Mercantour could be the fittest horse in the race.”
 
He added: “I’d like to give all my runners two warm-up races before the Summer Cup this year. Last year they had only one run. I’m starting them off and they are well below their best. It’s hard for me to make a suggestion on what to do in this race, most horses are prepping. I guess punters will have to consider putting the field in their exotics, I can’t give much confidence about ours.”
 
Mike is looking forward to a good run from first-timer Great Notion in Race 1 over 1450m. She’s a daughter of Danon Platina in a race with colts and geldings and he said: “I left her in against the colts because she drew well here at Number 2. She has ability, if she’s not too green she can finish in the money, a definite Trifecta inclusion for me.”
 
Wearingofthegreen made a fair debut over 1200m after being slow away on 28 September, and she is expected to improve over 1450m in Race 3. Mike commented: “She is a quirky filly, as I’ve noted, but she has ability. She’ll enjoy further than this, but she has made improvement over the last two weeks and if she gets away on terms could fight out the finish.”
 
Gimmeanotherchance is considered to have feature prospects this season, but he disappointed in his comeback run last week. Mike’s left him in for Saturday in Race 6 over 1450m and said: “He needed the run more than I expected last week and he’s come on for it. He’d be a handicapping certainty if he was fully wound up, but he clearly needs another run to get him to his best. He should finish a lot closer, he has the class, but I’d consider one or two others here, too.”
 
Forgiveness won a good race at Greyville on 25 September and has a chance of following up in Race 7 over 2000m. Mike said: “She is well, probably still ahead of the handicapper and I think she’ll be our best of the day. Kadizora will need the run back, after a rest.”
 
Mike saddles Trois Trois Quatre and Officer in Command in Race 7 over 1900m at HWB Greyville on Sunday. He said: “It’s a small field and our pair will be racing with handy weights, but both look like they’ll have a bit to do. Trois Trois Quatre is still a few points away from his most competitive rating. He looks best around MR85 or 86, but he is distance suited and could earn a stake. Officer In Command is in form but his rating has gone up and he goes from a C division race to an A division race, that’s a steep rise in class.”
 
Grape Shot goes to post in Race 8 over 1200m. She hasn’t done much racing this year, but is said to be enjoying her time in KZN and has some prospects. “She’s doing well, include her,” said the trainer.

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