THE De Kock family, in Cape Town for Saturday’s Gr1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas, took time out for lunch on Thursday at the sponsor’s picturesque farm on the Stellenbosch Road just outside of Somerset West.
Avontuur’s GM Pippa Mickleburgh was a notable absentee at Mike’s Christmas Party last week, but she puts heaps of time and effort into Avontuur’s biggest week of the year it was a pleasure to catch up with her at her own base.
The outstanding wine and cuisine aside, Avontuur is the home of leading stallion VAR and Oratorio, its formidable recent acquisition.
She’s not even two months old, but Miss Frankel already knows how to entertain her male admirers.
Avontuur’s latest resident is Miss Frankel, the filly born from European superstar Frankel’s mating with South Africa’s former top sprinting mare, Val De Ra.
The sensational blood that flows in young Miss Frankel’s veins has brought her immediate fame but she’s taken to it like a true celebrity and is loving the attention of the dozens of fans who have already travelled to the Winelands to see her.
Mike, Diane and Mathew de Kock also walked along to Miss Frankel’s paddock where the young filly welcomed them like an “old pro”! Pretty little thing, she is.
Miss Frankel’s already considerable value was given a boost two weeks ago when another filly by Frankel sold for an Irish record of 1.8 million euros (about £1.45m). A daughter of Finsceal Beo, she was bought at Goffs sales by Dermot Farrington for an unnamed Irish client.
Frankel was retired in 2012 after winning all 14 of his races. His first foal to be sold at auction went for £1.15m in London in June
