De Kock’s runner a Safe banker

By Racing Editor

With the second leg of the WSB Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift Tripe Tiara being contested on Saturday at Turffontein, as well as the Super Saturday race meeting at Meydan, bettors will have an exhilarating opportunity to see a number of superstars in action.

On the local front, the Pick 6 on the Turffontein meeting has been boosted by a cool R1-million, and the pool is expected to exceed R5-million.

A possible banker is Safe Passage, who runs in Race 7, the Grade 1 WSB SA Classic over 1800m.

Winner of the first leg of the Triple Crown, Mike de Kock’s runner is seeking his sixth straight victory. Having already won over 2000m, there is no question that this Silvano gelding has the legs.

In Race 6, the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m, all eyes will be on Rain In Holland, winner of the first leg of the Triple Tiara.

Trained by Sean Tarry, this Duke Of Marmalade filly went off at 5-1 in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas. On Saturday, she will probably be the tote favourite.

With four wins over 1600m, including a Grade 1 and 2, Rain In Holland should have no problem stepping up in distance. With Richard Fourie again in the saddle, she is definitely the one to beat. The Triple Tiara title is hers for the taking.

There are, however, a number of runners who have the ability to surprise, most notably Eternity Ring trained by Barend Botes and Yvette Vosloo. Don’t be fooled by her sixth place in the Guineas, as she had valid excuses. Her penultimate, over 1800m on a yielding surface, suggests she should take the step up in class quite comfortably.

Follow me, drawn in Commissioner Street for the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, jumped awkwardly, and lost 10 lengths, effectively ending her chances there and then. But Stuart Pettigrew’s charge is much better than that result suggests. She did beat Eternity Ring over 1600m in November.

The Mike de Kock trained Desert Miracle was favourite to win the opening leg of the Triple Tiara, but somehow fluffed her lines under Gavin Lerena.

This Dynasty filly has a Grade 2 and 3 victory on her résumé. She was heavily backed in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas but ran out of steam - her second unsuccessful attempt over this distance.

That begs the question whether she can stay 1800m. Interestingly, S’manga Khumalo gets to ride her on Saturday.