David Mollett
6 May 2008
Johannesburg — MIKE de Kock's bid to close the gap on Charles Laird in the trainers' title race received a setback when his imported filly, Front of House, was demoted to second place after passing the post first in Saturday's SA Oaks at Turffontein.
De Kock went into Saturday's meeting trailing Laird by R1m in stake money earned, and Laird quickly added to his total with Merlene De Lago winning the R400000 Fillies Nursery and Warm White Night the R500000 PG Bison Nursery.
Front of House, an impeccably-bred daughter of Sadler's Wells, went into Saturday's R400000 Oaks unbeaten after impressive wins at Kenilworth and Turffontein, and bookmakers looked to be taking a chance as they drifted the filly to 28-10 in the betting.
Ridden for the first time by Anthony Delpech, Front of House was always in the front rank and her supporters looked headed for the payout queue with 200m to run. However, Weichong Marwing now had his mount, Happy Spirit, in top gear and she joined issue with Front of House.
In a desperate battle to the line, Front of House began to hang to the left carrying Happy Spirit off a straight course. Stipendiary stewards upheld Marwing's objection.
Commenting on the decision on his website, De Kock said: "Front of House was always going the better and I believe she would have fought off Happy Spirit even if she kept a straight course.
"But this was a meritorious performance because she was between eight and nine pounds out at the weights with the winner and third horse respectively," he said.
"Front of House is clearly very talented and she was green in the Oaks, but I wonder how good she will be in a year from now? She is the type of horse we will consider for next year's Dubai Carnival."
Stablemate Moon Storm, who had beaten Happy Spirit the last time they met but was now 7kg worse off at the weights, finished third.
"She ran a very good race too and -- with her exceptional pedigree -- will go on to win more races," said De Kock.
Jockey Kevin Shea, successful on Sun Classique in Dubai, was hopeful of winning SA's richest race, the Gommagomma Challenge, on Rudra.
But the son of Parade Leader had to settle for a third place behind Kings Gambit and Classic Oasis.
"The 2450m was too far for him in the heavy going, but he is a horse with lots of ability and we are looking forward to the KZN season," said De Kock.
Rudra is one of six horses De Kock has entered for the Durban July.
The other five he has nominated are Autumn Frost (unplaced behind Pacific Warrior in Saturday's Gold Bowl), Equal Image, Gilded Minaret, Hamlool and Braggadacio.
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