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...is a word never to be left out when describing Mike De Kock,
arguably one of South Africa’s greatest trainers ever, undoubtedly
this country’s greatest achieving trainer. Mike has a close lead on a
very talented group of South African trainers and I don’t think we
have ever had a better trainers list.
Mike De Kock has done more for South African horseracing in
my book than any other trainer, making history time and again with his
bold outlook on life. It's no wonder that the late Harry
Oppenheimer and his energetic wife, Bridget, sought Mike out to
engage his services, which in turn lead to the mighty Horse
Chestnut, the greatest horse that I’ve seen run in South Africa.
Who can forget his historical Met win as a 3yold?
Smart is also a word associated with Team Valor’s Barry Irwin.
Purchases of horses in training, like Ipi Tombe (Zim) winner of
the July as a 3yold filly and the great Irridescence, leave
little doubt that De Kock and Team Valor make a very
smart combination.
Mike certainly was smart enough to skip the Grade 1 S.A. Fillies
Classic with Team Valor’s 3 yold filly, Little Miss Magic;
instead, he chose to plunder the Post Empress Grade 1 over a mile.
Little Miss Magic was the only 3 yold in the race and showed great
maturity with a fluent win over her older rivals. Soft Landing
was 2 lengths behind in second, with Bold Ellinore 4.5 lengths
behind in third. Weichong rode a very business like race,
taking no chances by keeping Little Miss Magic handy and
setting her loose early, securing the result. |