Dave The King is peaking: de Kock

New Paper

6 days ago

DURBAN Mathew de Kock is not underestimating the formidable task facing stable star Dave The King, in his quest to achieve back-to-back victories in the ZAR1.5 million (S$109,000) Grade 1 HKJC Champions Cup (1,800m) at Greyville on July 27.
After returning from a successful training stint in Australia, de Kock now trains in partnership with his father, Mike, who has accumulated the most Group 1 wins of any South African trainer.
Following unplaced runs as favourite in two races at the end of his last campaign, Dave The King has won both of his races in 2025, including his most recent assignment in the Grade 1 Gold Challenge (1,600m) at Greyville on June 7.
De Kock said the stable could not be happier with the five-year-old gelding, noting he has improved since his last-start victory when he again started favourite.
"He has come on from his last start, which is great because it was really only his second run after a rest," said de Kock.
"He seems to be peaking for this race, which is fantastic.
"He won very well last year, so it looks like everything is coming together for him to kind of put in a similar performance."
In his 2024 victory, Dave The King - the reigning South African Horse of the Year - cruised to the lead at the 1,000m mark and opened up a handy margin while holding off fast-finishers from back in the field.
De Kock said the son of Global View was a free-striding horse with a big action and a high cruising speed, and whose strength is placing his rivals under pressure during the middle stages of races.
Callan Murray, who returned from Adelaide, Australia in May, was aboard Dave The King at his last two wins. The former South African boom apprentice jockey, who had a brief stint at Kranji in 2019, has met with instant success at his return home, linking up mostly with the de Kocks.
While there are only nine runners in July 27's race, de Kock said it was a tricky field. He rates Dean Kannemeyer's last-start Grade 1 Durban July (2,200m) winner, The Real Prince, as the biggest danger.
"He is obviously in good form and has beaten most of the rest before, and I would probably be most worried about him from (barrier) No. 1," said de Kock.
"The Durban July is our biggest race, which he won two weeks ago. It's a handicap, though.
"See It Again is also a good horse on his day."
Now based in Hong Kong, Keagan de Melo returns home for the ride on See It Again, who was injured ahead of the Durban July and goes into the July 27 race fresh.
Kannemeyer said he did not hesitate to target the Champions Cup after The Real Prince's last start - and most significant - victory on July 5.
"This Champions Cup will be his third run after a break, and it may well be that the 1,800m suits him down to the ground," he said.
"We will let the others worry about us."
Gladatorian finished seventh to The Real Prince, beaten five lengths in the Durban July, but the five-year-old's earlier form gives him a chance of figuring in the placings.
The only three-year-old in the field is Fire Attack, who will carry 129lb (58.5kg), 3lb less than his older rivals, but has a tricky draw in barrier eight.
Montien, trained by Piet Botha, is sure to have some admirers for a place at decent odds. HKJC