Soqrat goes for Hawaii Stakes

Mike de Kock has opted to bypass the SA Classic with Soqrat and run the Cape Guineas winner in the Hawaii Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday.

De Kock had five runners entered for the R2-million Grade 1 race over 1800m but had said prior to the Gauteng Guineas that Soqrat would be aimed at the major 1600m races this season – the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein and the Rising Sun Gold challenge at Greyville.

Soqrat comes into the Hawaii Stakes as the best-handicapped runner and is at least 3.5kg be er weighted with the balance of the field.

He is drawn No 4 and will have Randall Simons in the irons.

Despite the withdrawal of Soqrat, De Kock still has a very strong hand in the SA Classic with Dingaans winner Hawwaam, Barahin, Alyaasaat and Cape Derby champion Atyaab taking their places in the second leg of the SA Triple Crown.

Hawwaam and Barahim finished second and third respectively in the Gauteng Guineas but were drawn No 11 and No 15.

This time Barahin will jump from pole position while Hawwaam is in gate No 5.

Gaving Lerena rides Hawwaam with Anton Marcus on Barahin.The one runner who still can win the Triple Crown is National Park.

He was a runaway winner of the Gauteng Guineas but he did have the benefit of No 1 draw.

This time he jumps from No 7 barrier position, although it is less rele-vant as only nine runners will line up for this event and over 1800m, jockeys have a be er opportunity to place their mounts.

Richard Fourie was full of praise for National Park’s Guineas win and he is no doubt delighted to have the ride for this race.

Nafaayes represents the De Kock stable in the Wilgerbosdri SA Fillies Classic and she is the only runner capable of winning the Wilgerbosdri SA Triple Tiara.

However, even if she does win this leg, De Kock commented that the 2450m of the SA Oaks could be beyond her and she would not run in the final leg.

Plucky runner-up Running Brave, who was beaten a short head by Nafaayes in the Guineas, will also take her place.

Sean Tarry saddles three runners, including talented Return Flight who ran second to SA Derby winner Hero’s Honour last time. Marcus takes the ride on this daughter of Pomodoro.

Final fi eld for the R2-million SA Classic (Grade 1) over 1800m at Turff ontein on Saturday.1 – 7 NATIONAL PARK (Y Bremn-er) R Fourie 60.0 – 1172 – 5 HAWWAAM (M F De Kock) G Lerena 60.0 – 1123 – 6 ALYAASAAT (M F De Kock) R Simons 60.0 – 1084 – 1 BARAHIN (M F De Kock) A Marcus 60.0 – 1085 – 4 ZILLZAAL (S G Tarry) L Hewitson 60.0 – 1066 – 3 ATYAAB (M F De Kock) D De Gouveia 60.0 – 1057 – 8 OWLINTHETREE (G V Woodruff ) C Maujean 60.0 – 1028 – 9 APPROACH CONTROL (C Dawson) C Zackey 60.0 – 929 – 2 ROLL OF DRUMS (J A Soma) M Yeni 60.0 – 84Same Trainer: (2,3,4,6) Final fi eld for the R1.25-mil-lion Wilgerbosdri SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1) over 1800m. 1 – 1 NAFAAYES (M F De Kock) W Kennedy 60.0 – 1092 – 8 RONNIE’S CANDY (S J Gray) …………… 60.0 – 1053 – 7 SECOND REQUEST (S G Tarry) L Hewitson 60.0 – 1044 – 2 RETURN FLIGHT (S G Tar-ry) A Marcus 60.0 – 1025 – 4 RUNNING BRAVE (P F Matche ) D L Habib 60.0 – 996 – 9 CHITENGO (A G Laird) R Danielson 60.0 – 957 – 6 STORM DESTINY (M F De Kock) G Lerena 60.0 – 958 – 12 I LIKE IT (S Moff a ) S Brown 60.0 – 929 – 5 SKYE LANE (J A Soma) S Khumalo 60.0 – 9110 – 10 DAGMAR (M F De Kock) R Simons 60.0 – 9011 – 3 PERFECT TIGRESS (M/A Azzie) M V’Rensburg 60.0 – 9012 – 11 BLOSSOM (O A Ferraris) R Fourie 60.0 – 88Same Trainer: (1,7,10) (3,4) Final fi eld for the R400,000 Hawaii Stakes (Grade 2) over 1400m .1 – 9 WILL PAYS (M/A Azzie) C Zackey 60.0 – 1142 – 12 CAPTAIN ALDO (S J Gray) …………… 59.0 – 1113 – 6 DOOSRA (J J van Vuuren) A Marcus 58.0 – 1044 – 13 ZOUAVES (G V Woodruff ) M V’Rensburg 58.0 – 1045 – 2 CAPTAIN AND MASTER (S G Tarry) L Hewitson 58.0 – 1036 – 7 INFAMOUS FOX (C Daw-son) W Kennedy 58.0 – 1037 – 10 RED CHESNUT ROAD (R/S Hill) P Strydom 58.0 – 1028 – 11 NEW CALEDONIA (G V Woodruff ) D De Gouveia 58.0 – 1019 – 1 ARABIAN BEAT (P A Peter) R Fourie 58.0 – 9710 – 8 FULL MAST (M/A Azzie) R Munger 58.0 – 9611 – 4 SOQRAT (M F De Kock) R Simons 57.0 – 12412 – 3 CASCAPEDIA (M F De Kock) G Lerena 56.5 – 11013 – 5 AL DANZA (G V Woodruff ) C Maujean 55.5 – 108Same Trainer: (1,10) (4,8,13) (11,12)

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.