DEEP TEMPEST AND KERCHAK CATCH THE EYE WITH CREDITABLE RUNNER-UP FINISHES

By Graham Potter | Sunday, November 28, 2021

The David Vandyke stable rounded out the month of November with two runner-up finishes provided by two New Zealand breds, Deep Tempest and Kerchak.

Deep Tempest stepped up from a Maiden victory into a Quality Three-Year-Old Handicap at the Sunshine Coast on November 20, where he turned in a highly creditable performance when dead-heating for second place, just half a length behind the $2.60 favourite Caboche.

Deep Tempest ($17) missed the start, which placed him at an instant disadvantage. He had ten, then nine horses ahead of him racing down the back stretch as Caboche and Big Muskie ($4.20) made play at the head of affairs, some seven to eight lengths in advance of Deep Tempest.

Stephanie Thornton kept Deep Tempest at a relaxed gallop and he was able to save ground on the turn, moving up to straighten in fifth place, hugging the rail. From there, Deep Tempest’s effort in the home straight was really pleasing as he made steady progress all the way down the home straight … and he was still closing on Caboche, who was scoring an end-to-end victory, at the line.

In his Maiden win in his previous start, Deep Tempest had jumped into prime position, trailing the leader in second spot before taking over the lead early in the straight and then staying on strongly under pressure to secure a smart win … so, just how much the tardy start cost Deep Tempest in the end is difficult to assess.

You can draw your own conclusion.
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Kerchak, for his part, was on debut on a heavy 8 surface at the Sunshine Coast in a Maiden Plate over 1200m on November 28.

Kerchak, who started as the $2.30 favourite, jumped from a wide gate and was held three wide, back in fourth spot, all the way until straightening.

The son of Tarzino still seemed perfectly poised to strike though, now just two lengths off the lead with the whole of the home straight left to run and, although he took a little while to pick up the tempo, Kerchak ultimately did begin to peg back the leader Chief Artie ($3) to the degree that he would go past Chief Artie in the final strides … the only problem being that he too would be passed in the shadow of the post of the faster finishing, outsider Miss Pierro, who arrived with a rush to spoil the Kerchak party.

It was a great educational run, taking on the heavy going, learning how to chase etc … so, while the victory eluded Kerchak, there were plenty of positives to take away from the race.
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Jewel Flight, She’s At Regatta and Tick Tock Boom also deserve mention as they all finished with their number in the frame in the second half of November.

Jewel Flight finished third … her third consecutive placing in as many starts … at Doomben in a Maiden Plate over 1640m.

She’s At Regatta finished third at the same meeting in a Fillies And Mares Class 1 over 1050m. She was first-up, as was Jewel Flight.

Tick Tock Boom finished fourth in a BM68 over 1350m at Doomben after finishing second and third in his two previous starts.

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