Heather’s Boy gallantly fought off Bacchus and won cosily in the end (JC Photos)
Mike de Kock made a statement with three horses at Turffontein Standside on Saturday, including the exciting three-year-old Heather’s Boy, and he followed up on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville by winning the Model man Mile with the promising Artist’s Model.
De Kock’s three-year-old Rafeef colt Heather’s Boy had tongues wagging after an eyecatching debut over 1450m in which he ran on strongly with long strides to win by two lengths last month.
On Saturday he had to run off a 90 merit rating meaning he had to carry 60kg against older horses in a handicap over 1600m.
He did the job despite having had to jump from the widest draw of all in the ten horse field.
He also had to find extra to fend off a decent fellow three-year-old in Bacchus after his superiority to the older horses had seen him hitting the front way too early.
Craig Zackey dropped the big horse out from the wide draw. He was second last early but turned for home in fifth place, having been one wide with cover in the running, while Bacchus had been on the rail behind him. Heather’s Boy passed the leaders like they were standing still and hit the front 500m out. However, Bacchus had got a tow through from him and drew alongside after being switched out. However, Heather’s Boy then kept on finding under a hard ride and staved the latter off. He crossed the line half-a-length clear of Bacchus, to whom he had given 1kg.
Zackey called him a smart horse and said “the penny has not dropped yet”. He added he had been gearing down at the line.
De Kock said, “I am actually glad he got into a bit of a fight because he’s quite unconscious and really needs the penny to drop a little bit more.”
De Kock is not one to promote horses too early, but he looks to have a fine classic contender on his hands.
Heather’s Boy is an imposing horse with fine length and he looks likely to improve continuously.
Earlier, another promising De Kock-trained three-year-old, the Vercingetorix colt Greaterix, vindicated the accolades he was given in March last season, when winning second time out by more than five lengths. On Saturday, he received 9kg from the well performed Pistol Pete, but on paper that still put him behind the latter, because in their first clash Pistol Pete had given him 5kg and a 5,50 length beating. However, this time Greaterix ran out a comfortbale two length winner under Muzi Yeni over the the 1100m trip.
Later, De Kock’s four-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Marauding Horde ran on strongly to win a Middle Stakes event over 1800m under Kabelo Matsunyane, despite it being his seasonal reappearance. He was rated 96 and now has a chance of qualifying for the Betway Summer Cup if running a big race in his next start, which will likely be in the Betway Victory Moon Stakes over the same course and distance.
On Sunday De Kock’s promising Buffalo Bill Cody gelding Artist’s Model emphatically reversed form with a horse who had beaten him over 1600m two runs ago in the maidens, the Garth Puller-trained Actor (New Predator). Artist’s Model beat the latter by 3,70 lengths on this occasion under regular rider Muzi Yeni. Artist’s Model, bred by Wilgerbosdrift And Mauritzfontein, had won his maiden over the same Hollywoodbets Greyville course and distance by 2,70 lengths four weeks earlier.
