
Clive Robinson
After an 11-year absence from the winner’s enclosure in the county’s premier race, veteran trainer Mike de Kock finally tasted success again, capturing the Hollywoodbets Durban July with the only filly in the field, Sparkling Water.
Not only that, his top three-year-old colt Safe Passage took third. De Kock’s yard is in top nick, and he looks the man to follow at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
Good Queen Bess must be one of the best-bred horses in South Africa and yet she only recently bagged win number two for De Kock. But it must be remembered she is bred in the Northern Hemisphere and is thus six months younger than her locally bred rivals. She may have taken time to mature and add to that she was tried over longer distances when it appears sprinting is her game.
She impressed last time, beating males and coming from well off the pace. The horse she beat, Botz, is highly regarded by his yard. In fact, Botz was well supported to win but he found her too hot to handle.
She was given a five-point hike in ratings as the handicapper also took note, but she won easing up and could be well treated.
She runs in Race 7 a MR 94 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m.
De Kock has another well-bred sort running in Race 4, a Maiden Plate over the same trip. He runs Winter Pearl who returns from a 253-day rest, but it augurs well that he brought the horse down to KwaZulu-Natal for the season when he could have let him have his win back home on the Highveld.
Winter Pearl went down 0.90 lengths to Bard Of Avon, who went on to achieve a merit rating of 105, on debut.
If running anywhere near that form Winter Pearl should be hard to beat in maiden company. He would have matured and has been gelded so could be headed for much better things.
De Kock also has Equestrian Affair (Race 3) and debutant Black Cherry (Race 4) both bred in the purple, who may also attract attention. The former didn’t show too much in his first two starts but was well supported, especially in his first start. He could jump at decent odds in a competitive looking affair.
Black Cherry looks well placed in his heat but is related to two Triple Tiara winners and may be looking for ground. All the same, follow the betting moves closely on him.