Esteemed cruises in with big strides after a 420 day layoff (Picture: Julia Marnewick)
The Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained 2025 Gr 2 SA Nursery runner up Esteemed came back from a 16 month layoff to pulverise a Progress Plate field by 5,30 lengths over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday.
The big Ridgemont-bred Rafeef colt is out of an Australian-bred High Chaparral maiden and made an enormous impression on debut over 1160m at Turffontein Standside on March 22 last year when flying home with long strides to win by 4,50 lengths under Ryan Munger.
However, in his next start in the Nursery just a week later, where he started 9/10 favourite, he dwelt and was then bumped and that left him detached at the back of the field.
His big stride carried him into contention, but the bird had flown and he was beaten two lengths by the 8/1 chance Green Diamond.
Mike de Kock revealed that things had subsequently gone “pear-shaped” for the big colt to the extent that it might have been the end of his career had there not been owners willing to pay the big veterinarian bills to get him right.
Owners Ridgemont and Devin Heffer had faith in De Kock’s belief that the horse was Gr 1 material and not only splashed out but had the patience to wait for a full recovery too.
“They will now be rewarded,” said De Kock.
An inkling of how highly De Kock regards the now three-year-old colt is that he was speaking of races like the L’Ormarins King’s Plate as the colt’s first big target next season.
He said the Jo’Burg Spring Challenge might be an early season springboard for him next term.
Esteemed was officially merit rated 105 going into Wednesday’s race and only had to carry 54,5kg which made him well weighted with every horse except the 106-rated filly Infinity Edge.
He jumped well and then just idled for the first half of the race as Amelia’s Legacy and last season’s Gr 1 Gold Medallion winner Good For You set the fractions.
Richard Fourie gave the big colt some rein at the halfway mark and he simply used his big stride to saunter into the lead before drawing away and winning easing up from the 100-rated The Last Duke.
The latter is a Paul Matchett-trained Duke Of marmalade gelding and should pay to follow as he gave Esteemed 5,5kg.
However, Richard Fourie did say later about Esteemed, “He comes from a 420 day layoff and 1200m is far too short for him and he goes and does that, so he is a very exciting horse.”
Commenting on the ease of the victory, Fourie said, “It honestly felt like a working gallop.”
Esteemed is definitely one to pencil in.
