Dave The King made his Highveld debut for new trainer Mike de Kock in a Graduation Plate today over 1200m on the Turffontein Inside track and the most noticeable aspect of the win was the way he responded like a lamb when Craig Zackey reined him to the back of the field from the off.
He also settled well when second in the R7,5 million Gold Rush over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, despite being caught wide from a wide draw.
Previous trainer Vaughan Marshall deserves accolades for the work he did on the big bay, because the quirks that on one occasion saw him being eased out of the race and on another occasion saw him tearing away in the front appear to be behind him.
The sky could be the limit now for the big Global View colt as he has a fine turn of foot and a huge stride and the 135-time Grade 1-winning trainer De Kock should get the best out of him.
He is likely to be seen in the Grade 2 WSB Guineas on May 6 at Hollywoodbets Greyville next.
De Kock said in the winning interview he believed him to be a Guineas horse, but added “the further the better for him”, so this makes him in an exciting campaigner for the SA Champions season.
De Kock’s most successful periods have always been associated with top jockeys, with Weichong Marwing, Kevin Shea and Anthony Delpech being the most prolific of them, and he appears to have found the perfect stable jockey in Craig Zackey, who has good hands and can be relied on to ride sensible races.
Dave The King displayed his fine turn of foot at the 500m mark which carried him down the inside on to the heels of the leaders.
He was a touch fortunate a gap opened as the latter were crammed along the inside rail.
His big stride carried him past the leaders under a hands and heels ride.
He won by 1,50 lengths.
In time it could turn out to be top form because the next two finishers, Southern Skies and Back In Business, are held in high esteem.
