Spumante Dolce fends off VJ’s Angel and Quid Pro Quo. (JC Photos)
The new darling of the SA turf, Quid Pro Quo, was beaten into third in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas to the shock of many.
However, for Mike and Matthew de Kock it was a dream start to their partnership as their Vercingetorix filly Spumante Dolce pulled off a win full of class to make it three wins from three starts.
In only their second meeting as an official partnership, Spumante Dolce was the De Kock father and son combination’s first winner.
She could not have been a more fitting winner.
She is out of a mare Mike selected overseas at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale of 2011 together with Jehan Malherbe for 130,000 Guineas on behalf of Mary Slack of Wilgersbosdrift Stud.
The British-bred Dansili mare Espumanti not only won two Gr 2s herself, but she gave Slack her first Hollywoodbets Durban July winner as an owner with her De Kock-trained homebred Silvano daughter, Sparkling Water.
Spumante Dolce is a Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein homebred herself and is raced by Slack in partnership with Bradley Ralphs.
It was most fitting that Spumante Dolce’s first black type success was in a race sponsored by Wilgerbosdrift Stud.
Spumante Dolce did not have cover throughout the race after jumping well and assuming a position in second place on the quarters of the pacemaker Vulcanite. However, Raymond Danielson had her nicely relaxed.
When the pacemaker fell away she powered into the lead.
It seemed the big filly had hit the front too soon down the long Turffontein Standside straight.
Danielson thought so himself and said later she had had to work hard.
Quid Pro Quo and the Gr 1-winning VJ’s Angel bore down on her in the last furlong.
However, the big filly found another gear to repel them and beat VJ’s Angel by 0,25 lengths, converting odds of 7/1, with the 4/10 favourite Quid Pro Quo beaten half-a-length into third.
The Gauteng Fillies Guineas is the first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara series and Danielson’s words afterwards, when asked about Spumante Dolce’s Triple Tiara credentials, were telling.
Firstly, he spoke about the race having not panned out perfectly and he added, “The scarey thing is she is still a puppy compared to them (to VJ’s Angel and Quid Pro Quo).”
Quid Pro Quo had sat closer to the back than the front after jumping from a tricky draw of ten out of 13, but she had cover throughout.
VJ’s Angel was dropped out from an even wider draw and was one from last turning for home.
VJ’s Angel weaved her way through and was right there challenging at the line, while Quid Pro Quo had moved up like a winner, considering Spumante Dolce had been in front for a long time.
However, the big filly found another gear to repel them.
Piere Strydom said Quid Pro Quo had not moved up as well this time as she had when winning the Betway Dingaans.
Mike de Kock said on what they had tried at home they knew Spumante Dolce was way way better than her official 89 merit rating and he said they had measured it to be “well above 110, 112.”
He viewed her as a Triple Tiara candidate as he didn’t believe she would have a problem staying 2450m.