Runners, Turffontein Sunday

Betway Ambassador Mike de Kock has entered five runners for the meeting at Turffontein’s standside track on Sunday, for the Mike and Mathew de Kock training partnership. The sun has reportedly made a welcome appearance in Gauteng, following two abandoned meetings earlier this week. This meeting is expected to go ahead as planned.

Emerald Forge (Race 2, 1160m) is a first-timer by Gimmethegreenlight. She was an expensive yearling and looks promising. Mike said: “Emerald Forge is not as speedy as the debut winners we’ve had recently, but she is not too far off them. She shows us some good work. She would’ve preferred 1400m or a mile, and it all depends on the strength of her opposition in this race, but I think she’ll be competitive and run into the money.”

Dupont Emerald (Race 3, 1160m), has three places to show from as many starts. She’s in a weak form race and will take a power of beating. “She is in a similar vein of form as her last start,” said Mike in reference to Dupont Emerald’s narrow defeat in an open Maiden, to male runner Paul Revere.

In the same race, well-bred four-year-old Wearingofthegreen will be watched for a decent run after a four-month rest. “She is a very temperamental filly and I believe she needs further than 1160m,” Mike assessed.

Artist’s Model caught the eye after a rest last week. He showed up well in a 1800m race before running out of steam late, and will probably be better suited to 1600m in Race 8. Mike said: “He clearly needed his last run and it was only seven days ago, but he is doing well. He might just be short of another run, and his wide draw leaves us no option but to give start, but he is a horse you have to include in your play.”

Littlemarysunshine incurred a six-point penalty for her win in the Spook Express Stakes on 24 January. That was her first run over 2400m and she won with a measure of ease, having improved with maturity like many other progeny of Silvano. She takes on male runners over the same course and distance in Race 9, and has a chance again. “We’re prepping Littlemarysunshine for a feature race in a few weeks. She is well handicapped and must be included,” Mike noted.