Soqrat looks to Cape Town after easy win
A week on from saddling six winners at Turffontein, including the Grade 2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile raceday, Mike de Kock was at it again on Saturday with another of his stable stars stealing the limelight at the Vaal. Callan Murray, who rode five of last weekend’s six winners for De Kock, steered Soqrat to an impressive victory in the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1 800m, continuing the combination’s rich vein of form.
De Kock was hopeful of a big performance from this Australian-bred son of Epaulette and Sheikh Hamdan’s consistent toplevel performer duly delivered to remain unbeaten in two starts this term.
He was confidently ridden by Murray from a handy position under 62kg and kicked clear approaching the 200m marker to win with authority by more than two lengths.
Regarding a tilt at the Grade 1 Gauteng Summer Cup, De Kock warned: “I don’t think I will be recommending it (Summer Cup) to the connections. They have Barahin in there, so why clash? The Cape is looking like an option rather.”
In winning last season’s Grade 1 Cape Guineas, Soqrat accounted for Vodacom Durban July third-place finisher Twist Of Fate and One World. And the latter franked the form of his Highveld conqueror by winning the Cape Mile at Kenilworth on Saturday afternoon.
This Vaughan Marshalltrained star miler made it win number nine from 11 starts and will now be aimed at the Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen's Plate after a dominant victory by 2,25 lengths under Anton Marcus over 1 600m on the Winter Course.
“We’ve taught him to settle and it’s worked. He’s taken the transition to coming from off the pace well,” said a chuffed Marshall in the post-race interview, having heard Marcus say of the strapping Captain Al colt, “This horse doesn’t make it easy for you but he also doesn’t want to lose!”
The two Listed features on the day were both won by Justin Snaith but, ironically, neither were ridden by stable jockey Richard Fourie who drew a rare blank at the meeting.
It was third time lucky for Var mare Casual Diamond (36-1) who sprung a surprise in the Laisserfaire Stakes having run second and third in the last two renewals of the race.
History repeated itself in the Woolavington Stakes, as Strathdon outstayed his rivals under Marcus and beat Gimme One Night to regain the title he won in 2017. - Phumelela Publishing