WEICHONG MARWING
Nicci Garner: Alboran Sea got the better of Captain Of All in a head-bobbing duel in the R1-million Betting World Cape Flying Championship (Grade 1, weight-for-age) over 1000m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
The start was delayed when Normanz, with a returning Anton Marcus aboard, broke through the stalls. His breast plate had to be replaced and he then dwelt when the runners were reloaded and sent on their way.
As expected, Trip Tease led early from Happy Forever but Alboran Sea wanted to get on with things and stuck her nose in front about 400m from the line. At that stage, 9-2 second favourite Captain Of All was midfield and under pressure. He suddenly turned his mind to the job at hand, though, and ran on strongly, getting to the filly inside the final 50m. She was determined not to concede, though, and a fierce battle ensued with the two warriors locked together as the camera flashed. The judges gave the nod to Alboran Sea by a short head. They finished 1.50 lengths ahead of Carry On Alice (12-1), while Tevez (25-1) and Trip Tease (10-1) got fourth and fifth respectively.
Winning jockey Weichong Marwing said: “It gives me great pleasure to have a Grade 1 for Mike de Kock and Mary Slack (who owns Alboran Sea in partnership with Michael Javett) and the rest of the team. It’s a plan that’s come together.
“There was a lot of speed in the race. Mike and I had gone through it and our feelings were mutual – we wanted to give her a chance. She’s still a young filly and we know she’s got ability.
“Things didn’t map out the way we planned. We expected Trip Tease and Normanz to show all the speed. Trip Tease did but it just wasn’t good enough for this filly. The race didn’t go as planned for Normanz (the other speedy sort in the line-up), either. I wanted to be a length or two behind them but was forced to open my deck of cards sooner than I’d have liked and allowed my filly to use her action. She put a bit of speed into the race and spread herself away from the rest of the horses.
“I thought on the line the other horse had got me. But the judges ruled in our favour – I’m not going to argue with them.Whatever happens from today, she’s only going to improve.”
De Kock believes this was his 100th Grade 1 win and said he would look next at the G1 Computaform Sprint and then two G1s in KwaZulu-Natal, the SA Fillies Sprint and the Mercury Sprint. Then, if Slack agrees, she’ll be sent overseas.
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