De Kock Racing is enjoying an exceptional start to the year, with nine winners and six places from 27 runners so far in January, and some excellent purchases made at the Cape Summer Sale.
Newcomer Immediate Edge (Vercingetorix) and Destiny Of Fire (Master Of My Fate), kept the stable ticking at Turffontein on Thursday, both saddled by assistant trainer David Dlamini.
Jockey Ryan Munger, on his annual visit from Canada, booted home Immediate Edge in what was not the worst Maiden field we’ve seen this year. He ran on strongly to post his debut success over 1600m and Munger said: “I didn’t sit on him in work but thanks to Mr De Kock for throwing me a bone with some meat on. What a beautiful horse. He was a bit green and the pace was stop-start, but he always had a good rhythm. I just had to give him one smack to put his mind to it. There are more wins coming.”
Immediate Edge races for Mike in partnership with Al Adiyaat’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Mary Slack of Wilgerbosdrift and the Equine Group’s Chris Haynes.
Immediate Edge stormed home for a good debut win. (JC Photos).
Haynes is enjoying a good run of winners with his shares in various runners. He also owns Destiny Of Fire in partnership with Mike. She was a short-priced favourite to win a handicap over 1600m and she got there under top weight, having to chase home Carnelo. She won going away.
“The speed was on and the light weight wasn’t going away,” said Gavin Lerena, who had to work hard to keep Destiny’s Fire in touch. But she showed her class, drew away at the end and is a filly with further potential.