De Kock runner looking to dazzle them at the Vaal
BENEFITS: FITTED WITH A TONGUE TIE, SECOND RUN AFTER A BREAK, HAS DELPECH UP
Beware Querari Viking the “ATM”.
The Dazzler ran a cracker in his first race for the Mike de Kock stable and even a modicum of improvement should be enough to make him a standout bet in Race 7 on Thursday’s card at the Vaal Classic track, a MR 90 Progress Handicap over 1700m.
The Dazzler was in the care of James Goodman in Durban but when he gave up training the three-year-old gelding moved to De Kock’s Randjesfontein yard.
Although only a one-time winner in KwaZulu-Natal, this son of Mogok had some decent form and rarely finished far off the winning horse.
His first run on the Highveld was in the Egoli Mile (Non-Black Type) at Turffontein on Saturday 10 March and stayed on nicely to finish fifth, beaten just 1.75 lengths by Soldier On. He found some betting support so the promising effort was not unexpected.
The one concern was that he made a respiratory noise on that occasion but will be fitted with a tongue tie for this race and that should help with that particular malady. The Dazzler was also coming back from a four-month break in which he was gelded so should have come on from that run.
He was dropped two points in his merit rating after that run and comes into this race with just 54.5kg on his back, 3.5kg less than he carried in the Egoli Mile. He will also have the benefit of having champion jockey Anthony Delpech in the irons.
If there is a danger it is most likely going to come from Querari Viking. This four-year-old gelding is one of those horses known as an “ATM”. In his last eight races this Ormond Ferraris-trained runner has only won a single race but has also placed six times and is certainly earning his keep.
In two of his last three starts he placed behind My Favourite Brown and as the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained runner won again last Thursday, that form is looking particularly good.
Joe Soma saddles two runners in Tendre and Lobo’s Legend. At first glance neither looks suited by distance as Tendre prefers further and Lobo’s Legend has been confined to sprints. It is likely that Tendre is being prepared for one of the staying features during the next couple of months but looks good enough to run a place, especially with Piere Strydom up.
While he is by Trippi out of a Western Winter mare, Lobo’s Legend could well be looking for further and only the race will tell. Gavin Lerena takes the ride.