Much delight on Gold Challenge Day!

Lady Christine Laidlaw’s ‘last chance’ to Mike de Kock to bring a good horse through the ranks for her resulted in the naming of Gimmeanotherchance, the facile three-length winner of Saturday’s Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m.

Mike will be hoping that Lady Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables throws him another bone now before Captain Dean Kannemeyer and a few hand-picked others get to enjoy too much champagne on Vessel Khaya.

Said Mike: “Christine has a great sense of humour and when she bought this colt at the National Sale she looked at his name and said, “Let’s give this one to Mike de Kock, he gets another chance!’ We haven’t had much luck for Khaya Stables until now, so this a relief and he’s a pleasure to train. Thanks to Christine for her patience with me and the horse; and well done to Jehan Malherbe and those involved in selecting horses for her.”

He added: “I was a bit nervous for Gimmeanotherchance today. I’ve had a healthy opinion of him and I always get nervous with a horse like him. Trainers bring their young horses to a race like this because they all rate them. You’ve either got something or you’ve got nothing. You bring them here and when they run nowhere you know immediately they’re not as good as you think they are.”

Race caller Craig Peters ended excitedly with, “Gimmeanotherchance came, saw and conquered!”, the type of praise that normally goes to top horses and while Mike won’t be making predictions just yet, he is quietly confident that the colt can go on to better. “A race on July day has always been on the cards, provided he gets a decent draw. Gold Cup Day is also a possibility. I think he is a Guineas horse for later this year.”

Khaya’s stable jockey Keagan De Melo shared the enthusiasm and said, “He’s getting better every time he runs. He’s going to have to step it up going into Group races but I think he has it in him. He’s still a young horse, still has a lot to learn.”

Gimmeanotherchance is a Varsfontein-bred by Gimmethegreenlight out of Final Judgement, by Judpot.

The stable picked up another feature win courtesy of Humdinger, whose trademark tenacity was the difference between winning and losing as she held on to win the G2 Tibouchina Stakes by a head from Marigold Hotel, who stormed at her late in a driving finish.

Jockey JP van der Merwe, who has won on Humdinger before, knew where and when to make his move and also knew what he was in for, but he kept the faith knowing what he had under him. The challenges came thick and fast, like they always do when she gets her head in front, but Humdinger’s courage kicked in and she prevailed for her seventh career success.

Humdinger (nearest camera), characteristic resolve.

“She’s an extremely tough and sound filly and she gets on with the job. To win from her wide draw in this company was a testimony to her courage. She is a delight, she’s been an absolute pleasure to train for us all. Well done to all involved, she’ll make a great broodmare.”

Van der Merwe said: “Humdinger’s all heart, she dug down and the more they came, the more she gave.” Humdinger is by What A Winter out of Himalayan Hill, by Fort Wood, raised at Ridgemont Highlands. She races for Mike in partnership with the International Racing Club and Krish Nagendran.