MIKE de Kock has thrown jockey Johnny Geroudis the occasional bone in Dubai during his off-time from racing in Mauritius just to keep the popular little guy out of mischief. The Islander even got a nice winning chance on Mike’s own horse Scotsnog in a Maiden Plate over 1600m at the Vaal on Tuesday. It was close enough to Christmas after all, and Mike has a big heart.

Johnny G took the opportunity and made his cameo appearance out in the country. He must have realised again how tough the straight mile is compared to the little Scalextric circuit in Mauritius where tired, strapped-up old steeds and their tired old riders go round like those little electric cars with the brushes under their frames  that race in grooves until the whole Set finally blows up, trips the Main Board (when Eskom’s got it working) and the family goes to bed!

Johnny G pulled the left-handed stick on Scotsnog and  ‘creamed’  ’em late!

Back in real life and competing in a real race many would have given their life’s savings too see how much breath Johnny G had left after having to earn his fee on Scotsnog.

But in all honesty – he remains a talented jock and he did well, rode a good race and looked quite fit for a really small chap who can pick up pounds quickly sipping Long Island Ice Teas on a fishing boat in the deep blue ocean.

Three-year-old Scotsnog came under an urgent ride fully 600m out – for a  moment viewers must have thought they’re watching a race in the UK where the jocks have their mounts off the bit so far out the race callers need microscopes fitted to their Zeiss binoculars.

Scotsnog probably has more of his damsire Fort Wood’s blood flowing through his veins than his sire Kildonan’s juice – he just took a stayer’s time to get going and Johnny’s arms were pushing and working non-stop, but when he finally got into gear in those lekka red-and-white silks he descended upon the leaders as fast as a mythical Knight Of Malta would swoop on a Religious Relic back in the days.

Scotsnog probably needs more ground – and not six feet under – he looks an honest type who is going to win a few more races before he retires to an Island somewhere.