OUR Happy New Year’s photo was taken at Mary Slack’s rustic Wilgerbosdrift Stud Farm, who had a highly successful year and will be looking to build on that in 2014.

Mike, who flies to Dubai on Wednesday to start his team’s engines for the 2014 Carnival, phoned on Tuesday afternoon to remind us of two milestone birthdays being celebrated at this time.

Mary Slack turns 70 today, Tuesday 31 December, while Mike’s good friend and stable stalwart Gerald Coleman will reach 60 on New Year’s Day -(didnt’ we report on Gerald’s 60th in 2003?) Hearty congratulations to both!

Mike will be attending Mary’s birthday party at the Ceres farm on Tuesday night. He extended his best wishes for 2014 to all readers of this web site, supporters and friends of the stable, valued patrons and staff.

We will be updating mikedekockracing.com with the latest news from Dubai in weeks to come.