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Mujaafy in Race 7 looks to be the best bet of the trio.
TALENTED. Mujaafy could not have been more impressive when he won on debut and can follow up in Race 7 at the Vaal today against some strong opposition. Picture: JC Photographic
Trainer Mike de Kock came away with three winners at Turffontein on Saturday. The stable could be heading for a massive summer season and it is great to see their inmates running into form.
That good run is expected to continue at the Vaal today where racing reverts to the Classic track for the first time in many months. De Kock sends out four runners and three of them are likely to go out strong favourites, all having won their last starts.
De Kock has never been scared to drop his runners in at the deep-end and that is exactly what he has done with all three. They are all in the Jackpot which makes that bet, and the Pick 6 quite an appetising possibility.
The best of the trio looks to be Mujaafy in Race 7, a MR 80 Handicap over 1000m. The Australian-bred colt made his debut at Turffontein while still a juvenile but took on older horses this Maiden Plate over 1160m. The word was out that this was a good one and he went off at 7-20.
He did not give his supporters one anxious moment as raced up with pace, hit the front 500m from home and drew away to win by 4.20 lengths. Second-placed Singaswewin won recently so the form looks reasonable enough.
This race will be a lot tougher but the son of Star Witness looks well above average and it comes as no surprise to see him priced up at 8-10.
Yakeen made his first appearance just 10 days ago and took off late in a Maiden Plate over 1400m to mow down the opposition. He went on to beat Middle Path by 1.40 lengths, producing the fastest last 400m in the race.
Yakeen drifted from 2-1 to 5-1 but that could also have been because they felt it would be too short for the son of Teofilo.
This time, in Race 4, he races over 1700m and with No 3 draw he could prove better than his opposition.
The runner with the toughest task is Like A Panther in Race 5. However, the son of Captain Al has more experience having raced three times.
He placed is his first two starts over 1400m as a juvenile but came back after an almost five-month break over 1600m and cantered to a 6.50-length win over Royal Resolution.
He takes on the likes of Hidden Agenda and Amsterdam in Race 5, a MR 84 Handicap over 2000m, so he cannot afford any slip ups but carries just 53.5kg and is drawn No 2.
