THE South African horseracing industry hosted its night of the Oscars last night, where the season’s champions were honoured, reports BERNARD IKER. 

Mike de Kock and Mary Slack, together with her Wilgerbosdrift Stud dominated proceedings.

Mike De Kock was called on to the stage six times:

          –  Joint Champion Two Year Old Colt – Kildonan as both trainer and part owner

           –  Older Champion Middle Distance Horse Female – Ilha Da Vitoria

             – Older Champion Middle Distance Horse – Equal Image

               -Champion Stayer Female – Candy Critic as both trainer and part owner

                 Champion trainer

                Joint Horse of the Year – Ilha Da Vitoria 

Ilha Da Vitoria.

Mary Slack was called upon to collect awards no less than seven times:

            Champion Two Year Old Filly – Asylum Seeker as breeder

            Joint Champion Two Year Old Colt – Kildonan as breeder and owner

            Older Champion Middle Distance Horse Female – Ilha Da Vitoria as owner

            Champion Stayer Male – Elusive Fort as breeder

            Outstanding Breeder Achievement Award

            Champion Owner

Joint Horse of the Year – Ilha Da Vitoria

 The achievements of both Mary and Mike are phenomenal and will be a hard act to follow: knowing the nature and character of the individuals though, these awards will merely have added fuel to the desire for excellence and will no doubt see them strive harder to supercede the past season. 

Mary Slack had a night that she will no doubt cherish forever – to be honoured as the outstanding breeder of the year, owner of the year and to receive the ultimate accolade of horse of the year, all within the space of one season, is mind boggling.

In his victory speech, Mike De Kock was full of praise for the team he has assembled around him and joining him on stage were all of his assistants, headed by wife Diane, grooms representatives, work riders, farriers, veterinarians, bloodstock agent and administrative support. 

All those who joined Mike on stage were acknowledged for the role they played and were also thanked individually by Mike.  Unfortunately jockey Weichong Marwing was unable to attend the awards dinner.  Weichong is an integral part of the team both locally and internationally, and is described by Mike as “the best horse in my yard.”

Winning a joint award has been likened by some “to being like kissing your sister,” however it would have been a cruel blow for either Mary Slack or Chris Van Niekerk not to have received horse of the year.  It would be difficult to find two more popular or passionate owners and they are deserved winners.

Stable patrons Summerhill Stud won champion breeders for the second successive year, Mike and Norma Rattray’s Western Winter won champion sire, whilst Bernard Kantor’s Count Du Bois received an award for the outstanding stallion achievement.

Jehan Malherbe yet again underlined his prowess as an astute judge, having been responsible for selecting all of: Kildonan, Ilha Da Vitoria, Candy Critic, Equal Image and Eyeofthetiger. In addition to this he was also instrumental in the mating of both Asylum Seeker and Bad Girl Runs.  If there were to have been a category for Champion Bloodstock Agent there would have only been one nominee.