Pleasant chance for De Kock
TOP RATED: MOUNT PLEASANT WILL BE HARD TO BEAT IN GUINEAS IF BACK TO HIS BEST Catch Twentytwo still has more improvement to come, says Peter.
It could be a case Mike de Kock versus Paul Peter in the Grade 2 World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas over 1600m at Turffontein tomorrow. De Kock saddles two powerhouses in Mount Pleasant and Malmoos while Peter has Catch Twentytwo and Namib Desert.
The R525,000 race run on the Standside track is also the joint first leg of the WSB SA Triple Crown. The other two legs are the Grade 1 WSB SA Classic over 1800m and the Grade 1 WSB SA Derby over 2450m.
The Grade 1 Cape Guineas, won by Russian Rock in December, is the alternative first leg and that would entitle trainer Dean Kannemeyer to bring him up to the Highveld for the other two races.
Both Mount Pleasant and Malmoos began their careers in style, the former winning his first three, which included the Grade 2 SA Nursery over 1160m and the Grade 2 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m on the Inside track in a star performance, beating the likes of Cirillo and Chimichuri Run.
He started a 15-20 favourite for the Grade 2 Dingaans but came under pressure a long way from home a finished seventh.
Malmoos reeled off four successive victories, including the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein and the Grade 2 Concorde Cup over 1600m at Kenilworth. He started a 14-10 favourite to win the Cape Guineas but never looked comfortable and finished ninth.
In the meantime, Catch Twentytwo had been gelded and began to show the promise Peter believed he had. He won the Dingaans and then added the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1400m.
“Those last couple of runs were no fluke. He has been improving all the time,” said Peter yesterday. “He is a very decent sort and is improving all the time.
“He’s a tall horse and he is only beginning to fill out into his frame.”
Although Catch Twentytwo beat him by 10.50 lengths in the Dingaans, Peter makes Mount Pleasant the main danger. “I don’t know what happened to him in the Dingaans but that is not his form. He obviously had an off day. But he has a merit rating of 127 and you have to respect that.”
Looking ahead at the rest of the Triple Crown races, Peter added: “I’m confident Catch Twentytwo will get the 1800m of the Classic nicely, but I’m not sure about the 2450m in the Derby.
“But, if he should win the Guineas, we will have to take our chances. The one thing in his favour is that he switches off.”
As far as Namib Desert is concerned, Peter admits he is throwing him into the deep end. “He’s beautifully bred – by Silvano out of Welwitschia – but is still immature. The penny hasn’t dropped yet. We’ve thrown him into the deep end and we’re hoping for a place, or at least a good run.
“He should be better over further.” So, we will go with a De Kock/ Peter sandwich – Mount Pleasant to win and Malmoos for third, with Catch Twentytwo in the middle.
With a Pick 6 MEGAPOOL on offer, with the pool expected to reach R5 million, those three should get you through all your exotics.
But the runner who could throw the spanner in the works is Second Base. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s charge has done little wrong, winning five of his six starts with ease. This will be a stern test for him, but it is worth noting he beat Nartjie last time, who is trained by De Kock.
De Kock did not even nominate his charge for the race and that could be an indication of how he rates the other two.