Mike De Kock's Horse Racing Picks: HKJC World Pool Gold Cup


Betway Ambassador Mike de Kock has entered a number of his top runners for the HKJC World Pool Gold Cup Day at HWB Greyville, Sunday, 30 July. They include recent Durban July runners Dave The King and Safe Passage, as well as Forever Mine, for the R1,25m HKJC Champions Cup. Stakes on the day have been increased by 25%.

For now, however, it’s standard fare with Maidens and merit rated handicaps and Mike has five runners carded for Saturday’s meeting on the standside track at Turffontein. Promising Mambo Come Tesio is not one the stable thought would have been a three-time winner from just seven starts, and he could well make it four from eight in Race 8 over 3000m, a C-class handicap that tops the nine-race programme.

Mike noted early on that Mambo Come Tesio will get better the further he goes. His prediction has been spot-on so far, with wins coming over 1800m, 2400m and 2600m. Well-placed, Mambo Come Tesio may still be ahead of the handicapper off a MR83 and has a handy 50kg galloping weight.

Mike said: “He is on the up. He looks held at the weights by one or two others in the race. But he is a big improver, has stepped up his game every time. He has a money chance again.”

The stable’s day starts in Race 1 over 1600m with Tenstar, a recently gelded son of Querari who has been as disappointing as he is good looking. “Tenstar is yet to show, may be improving after gelding. He has a place chance, perhaps.”

Climate Control (Race 2, 1600m) remains a bit of an enigma as he showed the potential to be a progressive handicapper but with only one win to show from 17 runs, may be running out of chances. Said Mike: “Climate Control has earned his way, but he just seems to lack another gear when it matters. He has a chance again off bottom weight, with his rating coming down. He cannot be left out of calculations.”

Sugar Blast (Race 5, 1200m), returns from a short break and Mike commented: “We have gelded him, having not produced what we’ve expected. I’m hoping for an improved run for his owners first time after gelding. We can only wait and see if he can put up something better here.”

Arabian Red is an interesting runner in Race 6 over 1600m. She earned a minor cheque for her fifth place on her 1200m debut and Mike said: “She quite surprised us first time out when she looked tailed off for most of the race and then flew up late, making up a lot of ground. She has shown some good work after that run and, over the extra 400m, I’d include her in exotics.”

The winter cards can throw curve balls, but in looking for a possible Pick 6 banker, David Nieuwenhuizen’s Celtic Rush (Race 9), has some prospects. He is on a winning roll and punters will probably not be far off hoping that his confidence and momentum can continue in a weak field.

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Published: 07/14/2023