Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer kicked off the new season where the last ended, when her Western Winter colt, Tarwood
won the first race of the new 2006-7 KZN Racing season. Tarwood, having only his second start and first over a bit of ground, raced green on the bend and the entrance to the straight, but gathered his stride under yet another polished Weichong Marwing ride to win going away.
Tarwood is out of Oaks winner Monyela and looks destined to improve even further with both age and more ground.
Bridget Oppenheimer
Aldgate followed up for Mrs O in the seventh race of the day, when outclassing the opposition in a MR80 over 1950m.
The 2005-6 season has just come to a close and Mike De Kock has outclassed his rivals in the championship race by nearly R 4 million with his horses earning R 13 million in stakes. To really put things into perspective Mike’s horses earned a further R 11, 2 million in Dubai and Irridescence earned a further R 8,8 million for her victory in Hong Kong.
Back in March a certain Highveld racing scribe actually suggested that Charles Laird was a championship contender – folly!
Mike’s season is the culmination of an international team effort and all of wife Di (who does such a great job with the babies), assistants Steven Jell, Trevor Brown, Quinton Watt, John Buckler and Nathan Kotzen have played their roles in ensuring the season has been such a success.
With Mike travelling as much as he does the results bear testimony to their capabilities and work ethic. Mike has a loyal, hardworking band of work riders and grooms who do their fair share of travelling too.
Thanks too are due to the veterinary practices of Drs John McVeigh and Crockie Du Preez as well as farriers: Peter “Slick” Dunias and Sean “Crayfish” Holland.
The administrative back up support provided by Chris Haynes and Gary Grant’s Equine Group offers peace of mind and makes travelling that much easier.
It goes without saying that to have a season as Mike’s had you need to have the horses and special thanks are accorded to all the owners who have supported the yard so generously.
Roll on 2007!
