MIKE and Mathew de Kock race Charming Charlie together in Mike’s well-known white-and-red silks, and they were delighted to see the three-year-old by Grey’s Inn hack up by 5.50-lengths under Muzi Yeni to win his Maiden over 2000m at the Vaal, Saturday.

While this was a satisfying win with R56,000 plus in the kitty for father and son, they would’ve had to spend hours in the ATM queue to get investment cash if they were to back Charming Charlie to win a fair amount on top of that – at 2-10 he was never going to be much more than a Pick 6 banker.

Charming Charlie beat a weak field, but the manner of victory suggests there could be one or two more in the tank and this Rosedene-bred is by Grey’s Inn, which means he will improve even further with maturity and may see out even more ground than 2000m.