“A great day at the office!” is how the Mike de Kock stable described Guineas Day at Turffontein after winning four of the five features races on the premier program.
The wins included the R1 million Betting World Gauteng Guineas with 100-1 shot Golden Chateau and only a short head separated it from being a perfect day after Ilha Bela was snared on the line by the Leon Erasmus-trained Go Indigo in the R500,000 Betting World Fillies Guineas.
The De Kock yard began their run when Europa Point won the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m.
Then Kavanagh followed up with a comfortable victory over Snowdon in the G2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m. Both winners were ridden by Anthony Delpech.
Slumdogmillionaire was well supported to win the Grade 2 Guineas and despite all the information emanating from the De Kock stable that Silver Flyer had serious fitness issues, there was a constant flow of money for the Dingaans winner.
As it happened, De Kock won the Guineas with the unwanted Australian-bred Golden Chateau, ridden by Derreck David.
The yard then filled the two top positions in the Listed Aquanaut Handicap when Atyeb (DElpech kept on gamely to hold off Dunraven (David).
With a lot of rain early in the week and further light precipitation during the meeting, the going was described as “dead” by some of the jockeys.
Front runners battled to hold their positions while no runner came from a long way back to win. It suited horses who raced close to the pace or within range of the leading group.
The start of the Guineas was marred when three horses, including Slumdogmillionaire, broke through the front of the gates and it was the favourite who travelled the furthest before jockey Marthinus Mienie pulled him up and returned him to the stalls.
From the jump David was able to get Golden Chateau well placed on the fence in second while Silver Flyer, Potala Palace and Whiteline Fever were close up.
Slumdogmillionaire had been slightly put out by the earlier incident and he did not get away all that well and sat midfield.
As they came to the final 200m the race was wide open with a number of competitors in contention.
At the line Golden Chateau had a half length advantage over Brooks-Club with his stablemate Slumdogmillionaire the same distance back in third.
Two years ago David was involved in a race for the SASCOC Triple Crown when Pierre Jourdan won the Guineas and the SA Classic but finished second behind Irish Flame in the SA Derby.
Having won the first leg, he could have another chance.
“I don't want to get my hopes up, but at least we know he stays,” said the jockey.
Chesney van Zyl, who trains Slumdogmillionaire for father Gavin, felt his charge had “a great run” but was affected by the start.
“The horse has only had two runs and when they break through the front of the stalls like that it takes a lot out of them. We can now look forward to the SA Classic and I think the 1800m will be better, and so will the 2450m of the Derby," he said.
Silver Flyer finished in 11th and the opinion of both jockey and trainer is that he needs to be gelded.
There were a lot of expectations surrounding Zimbabwean runner Control Freak in the Fillies Guineas and her fourth place, beaten just 1.25 lengths, was not a bad effort under the circumstance.
The day belonged to Go Indigo, who was well handled by Sherman Brown from her No 15 draw. Although racing some four horses wide he sat behind and let her go 400m out.
Ilha Bela looked the likely winner until the final stride and Hidden Beauty showed her class by running on well and proved that 1600m was well within her range.
Kavanagh confirmed that he was a 1400m specialist when he made it four wins from four starts over the course and distance. Delpech took him to the lead 400m out and he kept on strongly to reverse his loss at the Vaal to Snowdon.
