Mdk staff profiles # 6: Mlamli Simotho

Mdk staff profiles # 6

NAME

Mlamli Simotho.  54yrs.  Born in Tsolo, Transkei

FAMILY

I’m married to Nonsongesa and I have 2 boys.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU WORKED FOR MDK AND WHAT ARE YOUR DUTIES?
I have worked here for 23 years. I am a groom and a barn manager.

GIVE US DETAILS OF PAST EMPLOYMENT AND INTERESTING STORIES ABOUT YOUR RACING EXPERIENCE?
My brother influenced me to start in racing.  I began my career in racing in 1981 for Allan Higgins  in Cape Town. I worked there for four years then moved to Johannesburg. I started with Spike Lerena but then moved to James Goodman. I worked as groom and Workrider for James and also worked there with Diane de Kock.  After that I joined MDK in 1997. I do not ride anymore. I lead mostly the fillies to the track in the morning. I enjoy working with the difficult fillies and try to keep them calm and quiet. Another pleasure I have is training my horses near Transkei. Myself and a friend race horses in bush racing in December and January.  I have 6 horses there. We have been racing there for about five years now.  We have a grass track for training. There are many sponsors like Shoprite and government.  On a race day we have 12 races with nice prize money.

WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE HORSES?

One of my favourite horses who I looked after  was Major Hero owned by Cecil Treger. He ran second in the November Handicap. And he won a R400k race with Brett Smith up.  I also looked after Strutt His Stuff. Now I look after Akwaan who has won two in a row.  My Favourite horse in the yard now is Soqrat.  He is so straight forward, just put the bit in his mouth and go.

DO YOU HAVE ANY HIGHLIGHTS YOU REMEMBER IN YOUR CAREER?
I remember when Linkman won the Guineas and Igugu on the same day. Also a highlight day was when Mrs Slack won 5 races on one day.