3 minute read
Matt De Kock is no stranger to being associated with Group 1 winners on the world stage with his father, famed South African conditioner Mike De Kock.
The younger De Kock travelled his father's horses to carnivals in Dubai and elsewhere with success, but is now training in his own right at Cranbourne in a partnership with Robbie Griffiths.
While Griffiths has tasted Group 1 success on Australian soil, De Kock is chasing his first and the pair will start Halvorsen in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
But it is the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 6 that De Kock and Griffiths see as Halvorsen's best opportunity of success at the highest level.
On Saturday,Halvorsen meets the likes of Bivouac and Nature Strip under weight-for-age conditions while the Newmarket is a handicap.
And Griffiths knows what it takes to win the Newmarket, having scored with The Quarterback in 2016.
Halvorsen has had one start since spraining a fetlock when running seventh in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield last February.
The sprinter finished fifth in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on January 16.
"We're very happy with him. Our main aim is the Newmarket and the Lightning is just a stepping stone towards that," De Kock said.
"We don't want to be peaking in the Lightning, we want to be peaking in the Newmarket. We want to be using the Lightning as the fitness builder towards the Newmarket."
De Kock said Halvorsen had been kept fresh in preparation for the Lightning, although the trainers are undecided on whether to gallop or trial the gelding at Cranbourne on Monday.
"He's entered in a trial on Monday morning, but Robbie and I are still discussing whether we give him a trial or give him a hard gallop in the morning," De Kock said.
In a pre-nomination market with TAB, Halvorsen is rated a $51 chance.
Godolphin sprinter Bivouac, rated equal top sprinter with Classique Legend in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, is the $2.60 favourite ahead of Nature Strip at $4.50 and September Run at $6.
