Stars out in Jozi

Khumalo to add to his list of winners in Race 1

With the feature races of this Spring-Summer Highveld season coming nearer, trainers are slowly but surely showing their hands as they plot an assault on the big prizes with their stable stars. Race 3 at Turffontein tomorrow is a case in point, with trainer Mike de Kock stepping out promising Australian-bred duo Alfolk and Naafer in a Graduation Plate for three-year-olds over 1000m on the Inside track. Naafer had a somewhat of a disappointing Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal, finishing unplaced in both the Grade 1 Gold Medallion at Scottsville and Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe on July Day at Greyville.

However, he had shown above-average ability in three previous runs on the Highveld.

A son of proven Australian sire Lonhro, Naafer ought to have strengthened during a subsequent winter break and, with scope for further improvement, should prove his worth back at ‘home’. He is eight points (equivalent to four kg/lengths) better off with Boatswain, who he beat by 3,50 lengths in the Nursery over 1160m behind unbeaten Mustaqeem.

Stable companion Alfolk is a talented sort who boasts consistent form at a high level.

This gelded son of Lonhro has plenty to find at the weights and from the widest No 9 draw but will strip fitter after an encouraging comeback run. Both De Kock runners look the part in Leg 1 of the Place Accumulator.

Boatswain, himself an import from ‘Down Under’, is a highly regarded individual who should have more to offer this campaign.

He is the only real threat to the De Kock-trained pair. Summer Cup hopeful Fort Ember rounded off last season with victory in the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet on Champions Day at Greyville, beating Nightingale who had previously finished close-up in the Vodacom Durban July.