Jack Milner
Mike de Kock is unquestionably one of the most prolific trainers to come out of South Africa and is probably the only one to have a raced named after him while still an active trainer.
Now teamed up with son Mathew, he still continues to thwart his more youthful rivals as he demonstrated on Saturday when the partnership claimed the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas with Jan Van Goyen and the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes with Dave The King.
De Kock has trained many great horses and among them has to be Ipi Tombe who won races on three continents. After winning the Durban July in 2003, she went on to capture three features in Dubai, including the Grade 1 Dubai Duty Free, before ending her racing career with a victory at Churchill Downs in the USA.
The Mike de Kock Ipi Tombe Challenge for fillies and mares over 1600m, forms part of a 10-race card at Turffontein on Tuesday and it would come as no surprise were the De Kock team to capture this race with Spumante Dolce.
De Kock will be looking for a hat-trick of victories as he triumphed in this race two years ago with Gimme A Nother and again last year with White Pearl and while Spumante Dolce might look held on recent form, closer scrutiny may put that in doubt.
Four-year-old Spumante Dolce will be looking to emulate her mother, Espumanti, who won this race in 2013, and she does have quite a lot going for her.
She is the best weighted runner by at least 2.5kg and did have excuses for her poor third last run in the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode Charity Mile when trailing in 16 lengths behind the winner. She was not only reported to be not striding out, but when scoped was found to be full of mucus.
That forced the De Kock team, with their eyes on the Betway Summer Cup, to run her again in a Pinnacle Stakes for fillies in which she improved to finish a two-length fourth behind Minogue.
With a less than perfect prep for the Summer Cup, she did not produce her best and to add to the problems, she received a bump at the start and returned with a scalp wound.
In the Charity Mile she was well beaten by Callmegetrix but Spumante Dolce will be 3.5kg better off and will benefit from racing over 1600m against her own sex. She will also be fitted with cheek pieces and of course, will have man-of-the-moment Callan Murray on her back.
The main threat will come from Callmegetrix, who has been a revelation since relocating from Candice Bass to Tarry’s Highveld base.
Her three-run record for the yard – second, first, second – is punctuated by high-class efforts, including her authoritative win in the Grade 2 Joburg Fillies & Mares Spring Challenge. She then backed it up with a decent second behind Atticus Finch in the Charity Mile and is in good form.
Tarry has engaged Richard Fourie for the ride this time.
Kisshoten adds welcome spice. She beat subsequent Grade 1 Summer Cup heroine Mocha Blend over this very track and trip last time out and although slapped with a three-point penalty, she is unlikely to be deterred and should play a key role in Trifectas and Quartets.
Tony Peter’s charge is not short of ability and her last eight runs have produced four wins and four places. Calvin Habib has built up a good relationship with this mare and will be back in the irons for this event.
Rodeo Drive, who was nabbed late by Callmegetrix in the Spring Challenge and finished 0.70 lengths behind her when third in the Charity Mile, is consistent and genuine but still has a bit to find.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Inspiration, 3 Taking A Risk, 2 Princess Of All, 10 Ruby From Heaven
Race 2: 6 Trombolines, 7 Magic Carpet Ride, 8 Winter Belle, 4 Quevano
Race 3: 2 Delaware River, 7 Aquarius, 3 Truly Magical, 8 Hat And Heels
Race 4: 1 Aristotle, 4 Shadowfax, 6 One Eye On Vegas, 2 Pumpkin Pie
Race 5: 1 Buddy Boy, 2 Monkey Puzzle, 3 Clarkson, 7 Fostinovo
Race 6: 2 Corrupt, 3 Douglas Dragon, 5 Arlington Action, 7 Chabal
Race 7: 3 Poplar Park, 6 Azaleas For All, 1 Teo Torriatte, 2 Royal Invitation
Race 8: 1 Spumante Dolce, 2 Callmegetrix, 3 Kisshoten, 5 Rodeo Drive,
Race 9: 2 Splittheeights, 6 Antonio Gaudi, 1 Believe In Fate, 10 Quiet Winter
Race 10: 4 Banyan, 2 Top Division, 10 Lonely As A Cloud, 3 Twentytwentyvision
BEST BET
Race 9: 2 Splittheeights
VALUE BET
Race 4: 1 Aristotle
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 2×7
BIPOT
R324
Leg 1: 4, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 1, 4, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3
Leg 5: 2, 3, 5
Leg 6: 1, 3, 6
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R243
Leg 1: 2
Leg 2: 1, 4, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3
Leg 4: 2, 3, 5
Leg 5: 1, 3, 6
Leg 6: 1, 2, 3
Leg 7: 2
PICK 6
R1764
Leg 1: 1, 4, 6
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3
Leg 6: 2
JACKPOT 1
R588
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3
JACKPOT 2
R105
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3
Leg 3: 2
Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 8, 10
This article was originally published on TAB and is reposted here with permission.
