SAD news has filtered through that recent Mike de Kock-trained Gr1 Gold Cup winner Wild One has passed away after complications following surgery. 

His owner Sean Phillips announced on Facebook: 

“It is with Great sadness that I post this message to all my friends and family that have supported my Champion “Wild One”. He was my and forever will be my admiration of a champion Race Horse. I took the opportunity today of giving him minor surgery that would have relieved him of some of his discomfort he has been experiencing. Unfortunately in the recovery room after the operation he had a relapse and through much efforts to resuscitate him he unfortunately passed over. I will without doubt treasure the joy he has brought to me and my family. Nothing can compare to the wins he has had and the roller coaster experience I have had of receiving award upon award of his gigantic achievements only for him to dramatically leave the stage. I am gutted. I am nothing without my Wild One and am indebted to the limelight he so gracefully gave me. I will forever admire your achievements and make you pride within my family. Love you forever my boy XXXXX. Nothing will ever compare !!!! 

After a phenomenal come back from a long break, Wild One had a brilliant racing season and crowned it all by winning the Gr1 eLan Gold Cup, also the first for KZN’s Champion Jockey Anthony Delpech. Deservedly, Wild One was award Equus Champion Stayer and more recently at the KZN Racing Awards, Champion Stayer.

-KZN Breeders.