The Mike de Kock-trained four-year-old gelding Alfaatik put his disappointing 1400m debut behind him on Saturday at Turffontein Inside. Returning in a maiden over 2000m more than 14 months later, he made short work of the opposition to win by 5,50 lengths under Randall Simons at odds of 6/1.
This Shadwell Stud-bred bay gelding by Kingsbarns is out of Australian-bred Commands mare Anhaar, who is a sibling to De Kock’s three-times Grade 1 winner and now sire Soqrat (Epaulette).
The relationship does not end there because Epaulette is by Commands, which makes Alfaatik’s dam a three-parts sister to Soqrat.
Anhaar was unraced and is out of twice-winning Hussonet mare Elzeeza, who is a three-quarters sister to Colorado Claire, a Group 2-winning dam of Group 2 winner Gunnison.
Kingsbarns, is by Galileo (Sadlers Wells) and Epaulette’s dam Accessories (Singspiel) also comes from a Sadlers Wells sire line.
Alfaatik did not beat a lot, but it was his first run as a gelding.
He took a while to get going in the straight, but once he hit top gear he was pulling further and further clear and was still extending at the line.
He is promising, particularly as a potential stayer.
His only sibling, Nafoorah (Soft Falling Rain) raced four times for De Kock, winning on debut over 1200m and winning two runs later over 1800m off a 88 merit rating.
