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TALENTED: DE KOCK’S CHARGE EXPECTED TO IMPROVE AFTER GELDING
➸ Piere Strydom picks up the ride in Sea Cottage Stakes.
Trainer Mike de Kock has always had a very high regard for Al Muthana and tomorrow at Turffontein he can get back on a winning track when he lines up in the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m on the Inside track.
The Australian-bred son of Deep Field could not have been more impressive when he won on debut over 1160, leaving Nourbese four lengths in his wake. He was the given a lengthy break and when he returned, he again ran some decent races, despite the fact he did not threaten the winners.
The first was in the Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m where he ran behind stablemate Malmoos and the second in the Grade 2 Dingaans over 1600m where he finished fourth behind Catch Twentytwo.
Al Muthana was gelded a few days later and now, in his third run after a layoff, we should see him pretty close to his best. He is the best-weighted runner by at least 4.5kg and could prove far too good for this opposition.
In a very interesting move, De Kock has engaged Piere Strydom for the ride. A scientific maxim comes to mind when these two come together as it often the case of the “irresistible force meets the immovable object”.
They are both masters of their respective crafts but because of that, they tend to clash. Nevertheless, when they do team up, they are an irresistible force and Strydom’s touch could just be what Al Muthana needs.
He takes on much-improved Second Base from Johan Janse van Vuuren’s yard. This gelding has reeled off three successive wins and had no problem with the distance when winning easily last time. However, he has been running against weaker opposition and will battle to give Al Muthana 4kg.
Paul Peter runs Dr Doolittle and Baymax. Both have proven ability and cannot be discarded. Sean Tarry-trained Shah Akbar was beaten by Dr Doolittle in his penultimate start but that was clearly not his true form. He subsequently put the record straight with a facile victory over De Kocktrained Nartjie who also takes his place in the field.
Joe Soma’s Gimmethegoahead beat nothing of note but has improved as a gelding and the manner in which he won shows he could be a force.