Mike de Kock’s 3000th winner was given a traditional African welcome as Janoobi and Piere Strydom were serenaded into the winner’s enclosure by a gaggle of De Kock’s grooms after their narrow victory in R1m, Grade 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas (1600m) at Turffontein on Saturday
Mathew de Kock, running the yard while father Mike is in Dubai, was swept off his feet with cell phone still to his ear as Janoobi’s excited groom picked him up and carried him around the enclosure.
It was somewhat fitting that the first South African jockey to pass the 5000 winners mark was aboard Janoobi (9-2), as both De Kock and Strydom are legends of the sport.
Strydom, who rides freelance and who had ridden Janoobi on two previous occasions, was not over confident of his chances pre-race.
“I’d won on him before and ridden him in Cape Town and to me he was just a nice horse,” he said. “He was short and stocky and tended to over-race all the time but the jockeys have been telling me all week that they can’t believe how well this horse was working.
“I thought ‘Ja well, I’ve ridden him and I know the horse’ but when I cantered down I though he had grown and he was more relaxed than ever and that’s why he could maybe get away with it today.
“You know, he went to the front and was relaxed in front …. he had to relax otherwise he got beat. He held on by a short head.”
Sean Tarry, looking for a Guineas double after Smiling Blue Eyes won the R500,000, Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas (1600m), was denied a short-head as Al Sahem came up just short with the De Kock-trained Heavenly Blue (AUS) coming home strongly for third.
It was almost a given that either Tarry or De Kock would saddle the winner of the Fillies Guineas in light of the fact that between them they sent out three quarters of the runners in the field.
However, few pundits came up with the Tarry-trained Smiling Blue Eyes (18-1) and the grey daughter of Dynasty gave notice that the Triple Tiara is within her capabilities.
Making light of a difficult outside draw, Raymond Danielson had no hesitation in pressing for position early. Not being able to get onto the rail she raced three-wide into the straight and made a bee-line for the outside rail. Smiling Blue Eyes gradually reeled in the opposition and just when it looked as if she would have a race on her hands, the leading contenders ran out of petrol and Smiling Blue Eyes drew off to win as she liked.
De Kock runners filled the shallow end of the purse with outside El Hawraa (AUS) running on for second with the well fancied Orchid Island given every chance but not up to the task. Fancied Ektifaar (AUS) was prominent throughout but also came up empty while Safe Harbour was never a factor.
“This was probably a bit short for her,” said Danielson. “The further she goes the better.”
Earlier in the day, and learning from a previous mistake, Callan Murray pressed the button at exactly the right moment in the R400,000, Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes (1400m) to get the Australian-bred Redoute's Choice colt Rafeef (3-1) home and take Mike de Kock’s career tally of winners to 2998.
Apparently something of a monster – “I’m not scared of horses but I’m scared of this one,” De Kock admitted - Rafeef certainly doesn’t lack courage as he fought a protracted stretch battle with favourite and pacemaker New Predator, getting the upper hand late and win with something in hand.
Craig Zackey often gives the impression that he’s half asleep, but just two years out of his time he is up there with the best. Ice also runs through his veins as he brought Nother Russia(11-2) through from last to first in the R250,000, Grade 3 Acacia Handicap (1600m) and set De Kock up for his 3000th winner.
